Manchester City vs Everton: Pep Guardiola's side restore Premier League lead

Gabriel Jesus struck twice as champions Manchester City reclaimed top spot in the Premier League with a 3-1 victory over Everton at the Etihad Stadium.

Raheem Sterling also got on the scoresheet, coming off the bench after a difficult week in the headlines, to make the game safe after the lively Dominic Calvert-Lewin had given Everton hope.

City's performance marked a strong return to form after last week's first league loss of the season at Chelsea and put pressure back on rivals Liverpool ahead of their clash with Manchester United on Sunday.

City were further lifted by the return of Kevin De Bruyne as a substitute after six weeks out while Sergio Aguero was also back in the squad, although he did not come off the bench.

Key Points

• Man City: Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Delph, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus, Sane.
• Subs: Stones, Sterling, Aguero, De Bruyne, Zinchenko, Foden, Muric.
• Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Keane, Zouma, Digne, Calvert-Lewin, Andre Gomes, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Richarlison.
• Subs: Baines, Walcott, Tosun, Schneiderlin, Stekelenburg, Davies, Lookman.

Show latest update

2018-12-15T10:46:02.520Z

Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's Premier League lunchtime clash between Manchester City and Everton, brought to you from the Etihad Stadium.

 

The teams are set to be unveiled at 11:30am when we'll begin our full build-up to the day's action, before the match kicks off at 12:30pm.

• Mark Critchley
• 15 December 2018 10:46

2018-12-15T11:34:08.673Z

  ↵

Team news - Manchester City line up:

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 11:34

MAN CITY NEWS

2018-12-15T11:35:24.306Z

An interesting selection from Guardiola sees Sterling, Aguero and De Bruyne al start from the bench while Mahrez and Jesus and Sterling start up front. 

 

Otamendi gets the pick ahead of Stones meanwhile Fabian Delph replaces Zinchenko at left back. 

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 11:35

2018-12-15T11:36:52.500Z

Meanwhile for Everton, Marco Silva sends this team out to try and disturb the champions: 

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 11:36

2018-12-15T11:41:00.553Z

Another interesting selection this afternoon as the Portuguese is obviously looking to slow City's rhythm with a five at the back. 

 

Gueye misses out and Walcott drops to the bench with Zouma joining Keane and Mina as a centre half triplet, with Coleman and Digne on either wing. 

 

Calvert Lewin leads the line with Richarlison taking Walcott's place on the wing. 

 

It's set up to be a fascinating encounter. 

 

Get your predictions in below. 

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 11:41

2018-12-15T11:51:24.160Z

STAT ATTACK: 

- Manchester City have only won two of their past seven league and cup games against Everton, keeping a solitary clean sheet.

 

- The three most recent Premier League meetings at the Etihad Stadium have been drawn.

 

Do City have reason to be anxious ahead of today's kick off then? It could be two Premier League games without a win for the first time since April 2017. 

BBC Sport

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 11:51

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-15T12:26:21.460Z

The two teams are in the tunnel and we're five minutes away from kick off here at the Etihad. 

 

Be sure to stay here for all of the game's updates. 

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 12:26

KICK OFF

2018-12-15T12:30:13.330Z

Leroy Sane has 7 goals and 3 assists in his last 10 appearances. 

 

He's my shout for a goal today. 

 

Anyway, Bernardo gets us underway. 

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 12:30

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-15T12:34:05.166Z

Manchester City 0-0 Everton - 3 mins EVERTON CHANCE! 

 

Sigurdsson threads a lovely ball through the City defenders, finding Calvert Lewin's run. 

 

The ball is slightly behind him but he makes space and takes a shot with his left foot that Ederson has to get his fingertips on to clear. 

 

Positive start to the game. 

 

 

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 12:34

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-15T12:34:27.560Z

The flag went up for offside anyway (albeit wrongly)...

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 12:34

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-15T12:38:47.410Z

Manchester City 0-0 Everton - 7 mins

 

Everton have started really well and despite allowing City to break at times, they've got enough players who are resolute in their defensive duties just as Gomes steps in to stop Sane. 

 

They've been unlucky in most of their games against the big six, narrowly losing against Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United, while holding Chelsea to a 0-0 draw. 

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 12:38

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-15T12:41:01.573Z

Manchester City 0-0 Everton - 9 mins 

 

Jesus turns away from Michael Keane with a wonderful bit of trickery on the edge of the box, but once again, another Everton defender steps in to stop him in his stride with Zouma getting inbetween the Brazilian and the ball. 

 

Everton clear the danger. 

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 12:41

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-15T12:47:04.330Z

Manchester City 0-0 Everton - CHANCE EVERTON! 

 

What a chance for Richarlison! 

 

Digne does well down the left and clips a ball towards the far post where Richarlison is arriving late! 

 

He takes it with his right and smashes it over the bar. 

 

The commentary team think he should've used his head but I simply think he could've kept his shot down better! 

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 12:47

2018-12-15T12:48:52.170Z

​Manchester City 0-0 Everton - 18 mins 

 

Everton have been the more threatening side without a doubt so far. 

 

They're not zipping the ball about with the same dominance as City but they have certainly been the most likely to score. 

 

The atmosphere is a bit subdued at the Etihad. Maybe it's the early kick off. 

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 12:48

YELLOW CARD

2018-12-15T12:49:35.333Z

​Manchester City 0-0 Everton - 19 mins CHANCE CITY! 

 

Brilliant running from Mahrez down the right hand side sees him beat Digne who takes him down and gets booked in the process. 

 

Freekick in a promising position. 

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 12:49

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-15T12:50:48.496Z

​Manchester City 0-0 Everton - 20 mins PHWOAR! 

 

The ball finds its way to Fabian Delph on the edge of the box who takes aim and his shot goes high of the bar and straight into the camera! 

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 12:50

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-15T12:52:20.266Z

​Manchester City 0-0 Everton - 21 mins CHANCE CITY! 

 

Pickford just saves Everton from an own goal! 

 

A dinked ball from the left from Gundogan is dealt with by Keane but not very well as his clearance is heading for the bottom corner. 

 

Instead, fingertips from Pickford clear it for a corner. 

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 12:52

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-15T12:54:08.370Z

​Manchester City 1-0 Everton - GOAL! (Jesus, 23) 

 

City have picked up in the last 5-10 minutes and it shows with this goal. 

 

Terrible clearance from Everton leads to City playing forward once again. 

 

Leroy Sane threads another good pass into the path of Jesus who has struggled for goals in the Premier League this season but he guides the ball under Pickford's body and gives City the lead. 

 

Everton with it all to do, now. 

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 12:57

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-15T12:59:17.393Z

Manchester City 1-0 Everton - 28 mins 

 

City are now passing the ball around with more control. 

 

The crowd has quietened once again but at least the team is stamping their authority. 

 

Everton continue to try and play out from the back but City's squeeze is making that hard to do. It's cost them a goal already but they still want to try in their own method. 

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 12:59

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-15T13:03:56.666Z

Manchester City 1-0 Everton - 32 mins 

 

Good football down Everton's right this time between Coleman and Richarlison sees the former cross the ball at the byline. 

 

Ederson punches clear but it falls to Richarlison on the edge who can't sort his feet out. 

• Nathan Jacobs
• 15 December 2018 13:03

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