Erling Haaland's quickfire double inspired Manchester City to victory against Everton at the Etihad.The striker scored twice inside five second half minutes, the first a bullet header and the second a composed finish, to extend City's unbeaten run to eight matches in all competitions.The Blues had been making heavy weather of finding a way past an obdurate Everton who threatened in the first half through Beto and Iliman Ndiaye.City had their moments too with Haaland hitting the bar and the striker broke the deadlock early in the second half and once the Norwegian made it two shortly after there was no way back for Everton.Here's how the game unfolded along with all the analysis and reaction.16:57KEY EVENTFT: City 2 Everton 0That's it. Eight unbeaten now for City and 23 goals in 13 games for Haaland, who looked unstoppable until injury time when he was denied his hat-trick three times.O'Reilly and Gonzalez very good as well and another positive day for City, depite a stodgy first half performance.16:54Tyrone Marshall96' CITY 2 EVE 0 - IncredibleAnd again! For the third time in added time Haaland is in behind the Everton defence and again Pickford denies him his hat-trick.16:53Tyrone Marshall95' CITY 2 EVE 0 - And again!Haaland is in behind again. He takes the ball round Pickford but runs wide and then his attempted cross/shot drifts over the bar. He is desperate for that hat-trick.16:51Tyrone Marshall92' CITY 2 EVE 0 - Haaland so closeFoden with a lovely ball in behind for Haaland, but his shot is saved by Pickford and then his follow-up attempt is blocked. Cherki is then on the scene and his shot is deflected behind for a corner.You woiuld have put your house on Haaland getting his hat-trick then.16:49Tyrone Marshall91' - CITY 2 EVE 0 - Time for more dramaThere will be seven minutes added one, which is a bit of a surprise. Not sure where that has come from.16:47Tyrone Marshall89' CITY 2 EVE 0 - Praise for GonzalezOut of those changes it was probably Gonzalez who got the biggest hand from the Etihad and he has been very good today.We see Rodri in the tunnel at half-time, but it's fair to say the 23-year-old is easing the need to play the Ballon d'Or winner every week and he looks better in this side for every start.16:44Alex James85' CITY 2 EVE 0 - City changesAnd here come the changes.Guardiola introduces Kovacic, Lewis and Cherki for the closing stages.Off come O'Reilly, Gonzalez and Savinho16:39Alex James79' CITY 2 EVE 0 - Haaland hat trick?You would think there is an opportunity to rest the scoring sensation ahead of the Champions League in midweek and perhaps offer the fit again Omar Marmoush a few minutes?But Haaland will be desperate to stay and try and complete a hat-trick.City have still only used two subs so far this afternoon16:34Alex James75' CITY 2 EVE 0 - City in complete controlThe sting has been taken out of this one now, City are comfortable and Everton look beaten.There are more goals in this for the home side you feel.Everton have turned to their bench with Beto coming off and Barry coming on.16:30Alex James69' CITY 2 EVE 0 - Blues going topCity, as things stand, will be top of the table ahead of Arsenal's game against Fulham which gets under way in about an hour.Bournemouth have been pegged back at Crystal Palace, it's 2-2 in the capital, and that is enough to see City climb to the summit16:24Alex James63' CITY 2 EVE 0 - Haaland unstoppableHe's on another level just now. Incredible scoring form from the striker and he's taken this game away from Everton in a blink of an eye16:22KEY EVENTGOALLLL Haaland againHaaland scores again. Shock. City now two up and surely that is the points safe?16:21Simon Bajkowski62' CITY 1 EVE 0 - Everton still a dangerThat felt like a double substitution more out of frustration at the failure to score rather than to protect the immediate lead.Savinho has switched to the left wing with Doku on for Bobb, but City still have to be careful here - Haaland had his head in his hands when Beto was allowed to steam through on goal.16:19Alex James60' CITY 1 EVE 0 - Double changeCity score and immediately make two changes.Bernardo and Bobb are on for Doku and Reijnders16:18Tyrone Marshall59' CITY 1 EVE 0 - He was never missingHaaland has now scored City’s last six goals and he needed that one, given nobody else has looked like scoring.Been a poor performance from City but with Haaland you have a cheat code and he was never missing that header.16:17KEY EVENTGOALLLLL HAALANDThere it is. The breakthrough and who else? Haaland heads in O'Reilly's cross. 13 goals this season already!16:14Alex James53' CITY 0 EVE 0 - Echoes of last seasonThis game was 0-0 last season. On that December day City were in the midst of a dreadful run of form and to some extent were grateful for a point. That would not be the case today, it would be viewed as two dropped if City can't find a victory this afternoon16:10Simon Bajkowski52' CITY 0 EVE 0 - Subs out warming upGuardiola has sent four subs to warm up and the only surprise after the opening five minutes of the second half is that there aren’t more.Kovacic, Cherki, Silva, and Bobb are all on the touchline hoping to get the nod to come on , and at the minute not many on the pitch could complain if their number was up16:09Alex James50' CITY 0 EVE 0 - Blues will want moreThe home crowd are very quiet this afternoon, and to be fair there has been little on the pitch to get them off their seats.It's very much a game after the international break feel16:06Alex James46' CITY 0 EVE 0 - Back under wayNo changes from either side as we get going again at the Etihad.Plenty of options from an attacking perspective among the City subs with Cherki, Bobb and the fit-again Marmoush.16:04Alex JamesSecond half incomingRight, can we see a bit more entertainment and more importantly, a win for City over the next 45 minutes? We are about to find out15:54Alex JamesMore needed from CityWell it wasn't vintage stuff, City had the lion's share of the chances but Everton perhaps had the best two.Nil nil is probably a fair reflection of the half but Guardiola will want more from his side, a bit more urgency and zip required.15:48KEY EVENTHalf-time ratingsAll square at the break, let's hope for better after the interval but here's the half-time ratingsDonnarumma 7Nunes 7Dias 6Ake 5O'Reilly 6Gonzalez 7Reijnders 6Foden 6Savinho 6Doku 6Haaland 615:44Alex James43' CITY 0 EVE 0 - Chance CityCity counter swiftly and Doku gets a shot away but it is saved by Pickford.Blues win a corner and after a bit of head tennis, Everton win a foul and a chance to clear their lines15:42Alex James40' EVE 0 CITY 1 - Chance EvertonExcellent save from Donnarumma to tip away an Ndiaye effort.Ndiaye has been a livewire for the home side, five years ago he was on loan not too far down the road from the Etihad at Hyde United!15:37Simon Bajkowski35' CITY 0 EVE 0 - Poor from both sidesSometimes you watch a game and wonder how it is half-time already.It already feels like we have been watching this game for half a week and we are only just past 30 minutes.It has been poor from both teams and some quality is badly needed if this game is to liven up and speed up15:34Tyrone Marshall33' CITY 0 EVE 0 - A tough watch so farLet’s be honest, this is really boring.Hard to criticise Everton for playing this way and they are in the game as a result, but it is a tough watch.Every moment in the game seems to be a battle for the ball. There is no real control or fluidity and very little goalmouth action. City yet to serve up Haaland with anything resembling a chance.15:23Tyrone Marshall22' CITY 0 EVE 0 - Haaland quiet so farHaaland’s involvement so far has been to head clear in his own six-year box and offering himself up for a couple of wall passes as City try and build through Everton’s low block.It’s not been a feast of entertainment. Their brightest moments are coming via Savinho, who has the beating of Mykolenko but not the conviction to do anything after that.
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