Manchester City’s final visit to Goodison Park ended on a high as they secured a 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday afternoon, boosting their chances of securing a top-five Premier League finish.
The opening 45 minutes offered little to remember, with neither side managing to dominate proceedings.
James Tarkowski came closest to breaking the deadlock, his header rattling the post in a half that otherwise lacked quality.
After the interval, the intensity picked up and City slowly began to impose themselves on the contest. That pressure eventually paid off when rising star Nico O’Reilly struck a composed finish in the 84th minute.
Mateo Kovacic added a second deep into stoppage time, sealing a vital victory and stretching City’s unbeaten league run against Everton to 16 matches.
O’Reilly Continues His Breakout Run
Despite lining up at left-back, Nico O’Reilly once again demonstrated why he’s one of City’s brightest attacking prospects. Calm in possession and confident going forward, the 19-year-old was decisive once more in the final third.
After delivering two assists in the recent FA Cup triumph at Bournemouth, Pep Guardiola had joked that the youngster would “definitely start the semi-final at Wembley.”
That light-hearted remark has since become reality, with O’Reilly featuring from the off in every match since.
Naturally a central playmaker, Guardiola sees his potential as a holding midfielder due to his height. The strategy seems to be to sharpen his defensive awareness by testing him outside his comfort zone.
Fans have noted the absence of Abdukhodir Khusanov, who had impressed earlier in the campaign, but O’Reilly’s form appears to be the reason. His presence on the left flank allows Josko Gvardiol, excellent once again, to slot into central defence alongside Ruben Dias.
Guardiola’s Signature Control Resurfaces
In tricky away games, Guardiola’s sides often rely on their renowned passing game to exert control. Against Everton, that strategy returned in full force, not so much to dominate, but to survive.
Guardiola has previously emphasized the importance of patience in hostile atmospheres, citing Copenhagen as an example. Goodison Park, now just two games from closing forever, certainly fits that category.
“This was a poor game and there was a lot of poor execution on display,” noted The Athletic’s Sam Lee, “but it seemed clear from the outset that City wanted to play ‘one-thousand-million passes’, as Guardiola says…”
The goal was to maintain calm: frustrate the home fans, deny Everton momentum, and avoid dangerous set-pieces. That approach worked, and even if the late goals hadn’t come, City’s game plan would have achieved its core objective. The strategy resembled what City often deploy in European away fixtures — control first, result second.
A Critical Win in a Tight Race
As the second half wore on and the score remained level, questions arose over whether City were pushing hard enough for a win. But considering the tight race for Champions League places, a draw at Goodison might have been acceptable.
“Not just because Everton are now much harder to beat than they were earlier this season,” Lee observed, “but because so many other teams still have to play each other.”
Aston Villa were set to face Newcastle shortly after the final whistle, while Chelsea must still take on Forest, Fulham, Liverpool, and Manchester United.
Had City drawn, the pressure to beat Villa on Tuesday would have ramped up significantly. But with this win, they now approach their final games — against Wolves, Southampton, Bournemouth, and Fulham — with added belief.
The fight for Champions League football remains intense, but after grinding out three crucial points on Merseyside, City’s prospects look much brighter.
