Goals from Aymeric Laporte and Gabriel Jesus have earned Manchester City a 2-0 win over Everton in Wednesday's clash at Goodison Park.
City squandered a number of opportunities during the opening 45 minutes, but Laporte gave the visitors the lead in the second minute of added-on time.
Everton had their moments against Pep Guardiola's side, but City confirmed their return to the top of the standings in the final seconds as Jesus got on the scoresheet.
Find out how all of the action unfolded on Merseyside courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Everton and Manchester City. Liverpool's two-game winless streak means that City can return to the top of the table with victory on Wednesday night, but Everton are looking to avoid another defeat in front of their own supporters. The teams are making their way out, so here are the two starting lineups...
EVERTON XI: Pickford; Kenny, Zouma, Keane, Digne; Gueye, Davies, Gomes; Walcott, Bernard, Calvert-Lewin
MANCHESTER CITY XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Laporte; Fernandinho, Gundogan; Bernardo Silva, David Silva, Sane; Aguero
KICKOFF: Manchester City get us underway!
SHOT! An early break forward from Everton ends with a foul being conceded in the penalty area, and it does not take not long for City to go down the other end to earn a corner. The set piece is only half-cleared to Sane on the edge of the area, and the winger sends a 20-yard volley literally millimetres wide of the post.
City have already found their rhythm at Goodison Park, but their latest attack ends with Walker being flagged offside after doing enough to win another corner.
Everton have gone on the front foot over the last couple of minutes, but City remain unruffled. This is shaping up to be a good contest.
City have the ball down the left-hand side, but Sane can do nothing with it in the corner with the German running the ball out of play.
The visitors take the intricate approach in the final third with David Silva playing a one-two with Sane but again, the ball is over-hit and it runs out of play.
This match has lost its edge since the fast opening. That should play into the hands of Everton, but they cannot afford any complacency in this contest.
There was a slight concern for Guardiola as Sane went down holding his knee, but it looks like the winger has already shaken off the issue.
CHANCE! City should be ahead. An inswinging corner into the middle is misjudged by Pickford, but Laporte is unable to head the ball into the bottom corner from no more than six yards out.
OFF THE BAR! Guardiola's side are upping the tempo. David Silva is given the chance to pull the ball back from the by-line, and Gundogan makes a connection at the near post and strikes the crossbar.
City revert to playing the ball about at the back, but they remain in total control of this game. Everton have gone back into their shell after initially causing the visitors a few problems at the beginning of the match.
City give the ball away in their own half and Walcott gets the opportunity to find a teammate in the box. However, the Englishman's low delivery is easily cleared.
Everton remain on the offensive without looking like creating a meaningful chance. I suppose Silva is content with the ball being away from Pickford's goal more than anything.
More of the same from the home side, but their bursts forward are at least keeping City alert. They have had the better of the opening 27 minutes but as of yet, they have nothing to show for it.
CHANCE! Much better from Everton and from Walcott. The winger's right-wing cross finds the run of Bernard, but Walker is able to divert the Brazilian's header marginally wide of Ederson's post.
Everton have done an effective job in keeping City away from the final third over the past five minutes, but City now have the ball again.
Any onlookers associated with Liverpool will be satisfied with what they have witnessed so far. That said, it doesn't feel like we are going to see many goals this evening and one may be enough to decide this game.
Everton manage to win a corner on the right flank, but the set piece is really poor and fails to beat the first man. The Toffees need to start taking advantage of such situations.
City earn a corner at the other end but Gundogan's delivery is cleared by the Everton backline. There is very little happening in this match right now.
Everton will be content to reach the break on level terms now. They are giving as good as they get, but Silva will be aware how important it is to not gift the advantage to the champions.
Walcott does not score many goals from distance, and he sees his effort here deflected wide for a corner. Nothing comes from the set piece, but the Merseyside outfit are at least remaining on the offensive.
It feels like City have almost given up on breaking the deadlock before the half-time whistle. This game is not being played at a great pace.
There will be one minute of added-on time.
GOAL! Everton 0-1 Manchester City (Aymeric Laporte)
© Reuters
What a massive goal this could be. David Silva sends in an outswinging free kick from the left and not for the first time tonight, Laporte gets above the Everton defence and sends an excellent header into the far corner from 10 yards out.
HALF TIME: Everton 0-1 Manchester City
The half-time whistle goes at Goodison Park and Guardiola will be absolutely delighted with that goal before the break. Everton - on the other end - will feel deflated and you have to wonder what their mindset will be during the second 45 minutes.
A reminder that we are also providing coverage of the Copa del Rey tie between Barcelona and Real Madrid this evening. You can follow the fixture at Camp Nou by clicking here.
KICKOFF: Everton get us back underway.
It has been a relatively quiet start to the second half in terms of actual play, but Walcott and Laporte have both required treatment. The pair should be fine to continue.
CHANCE! Decent chance, this. Digne's inswinging free kick finds Zouma at the back post, but the centre-back sends a glancing header wide from six yards out.
SHOT! This is ambitious from Gueye. The midfielder receives the ball around 35 yards from goal, but his swerving shot is kept out by Ederson in comfortable fashion.
Davies is clattered by Fernandinho in roughly the same spot where Gueye has just tried his luck. Digne takes responsibility for the shot, but it goes straight into the wall.
City are successful in getting their foot back on the ball, and it is probably what they needed at this stage of the game.
That said, Everton look far more confident than they did in the opening 45 minutes. They deserve credit for that because after conceding so late in the first half, it was sink or swim time for Silva's side.
CHANCE! City almost double their advantage. Everton fail to deal with a deflected cross from the right and David Silva's header bounces off Pickford. However, the ball falls to Aguero who sends an overhead kick wide of the target from close range.
SUBSTITUTION! City make their first change with Sterling being introduced for Sane.
Everton will soon follow suit. Silva made five changes for this game and left out some of his big-hitters, but they will no doubt be called upon in the next half-hour.
SUBSTITUTION! Sigurdsson is the first player to get the call. Gomes is the man to make way.
Everton need Sigurdsson because they have lost their way a bit going forward. If City get a second, it is game over, although the Toffees do deserve praise for remaining within one goal as we head towards the final quarter.
The home side attempt to find a way through the City midfield by passing the ball along the ground, but the visitors are able to push their opponents all the way back to Pickford.
CHANCE! City go through the gears and they have men over with Sterling and Bernardo Silva both getting on the ball inside the area. Sterling eventually tries to find the far corner, but Kenny deflects his effort marginally over the crossbar. Pickford was beaten.
Everton are hanging on a bit now. The ball has just fallen invitingly for Gundogan inside the area, but Zouma's block surely prevents a second.
YELLOW CARD! Fernandinho is booked for a late challenge on Gueye. The Brazilian stamped on his foot, so he can have no complaints.
SUBSTITUTION! Everton make a second switch with Richarlison replacing Bernard.
The home supporters are trying to rally their side, and they succeed until Walcott cannot produce an end product from the right. It's been a frustrating night for the Englishman.
Everton are making City do some defending, however. The visitors are sitting extremely deep right now, inviting the pressure from the hosts.
SUBSTITUTION! City make their second change with Gabriel Jesus replacing Aguero.
SUBSTITUTION! Silva also makes a further alteration as Tosun takes the place of Walcott.
YELLOW CARD! Zouma is booked for going in late on Jesus, but it's a bit harsh on the defender. There was no malice in it.
Everton break forward and Richarlison has the chance to thread a through-ball into the path of Tosun, but Ederson is out quickly to deal with the danger.
We are going to have a lengthy stoppage in play with Tosun and Otamendi having come together at a time when Ederson jumped to claim the ball.
Both players are back on their feet, but we are going to have at least five minutes of added-on time. City still have work to do.
SUBSTITUTION! Guardiola decides to make his final change with De Bruyne coming on for David Silva.
There will be seven minutes of added-on time.
City will have to remain professional to see out this game, but the visitors have the ball in the corner and win a set piece. That's exactly what they would have wanted.
Guardiola's side have since won another corner, and Everton don't really have any answers right now.
More of the same from City who have the ball in the opposite corner. Everton have barely touched the ball in added-on time.
GOAL! Everton 0-2 Manchester City (Gabriel Jesus)
Game over. De Bruyne threads the ball through to Jesus and although the striker's first effort is partially saved by Pickford, the Brazilian is able to head the ball into an empty net from close range.
FULL TIME: Everton 0-2 Manchester City
The full-time whistle goes at Goodison Park and Man City have returned to the top of the table with a 2-0 win over Everton. The visitors were made to work for the three points, but goals from Laporte and Jesus have given Guardiola's men a deserved victory.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.
If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
