Manchester City 2 Everton 0: City player ratings as Pep Guardiola’s side pick up a massive three points. | OneFootball

Manchester City 2 (Nico O’Reilly 84′, Mateo Kovacic 92′)

Everton 0

Here are the City player ratings as Manchester City beat Everton 2-nil in their final fixture at Goodison Park. For Pep Guardiola’s side, the result is massive in their chase to secure Champions League football for next season. Their next two fixtures against Everton and Aston Villa loomed as season-defining and they began that two-game stretch with a massive victory at Goodison Park.

First half

Manchester City’s final game at Goodison Park began with both team’s appearing to be up for the occasion. The opening ten minutes passed by with Manchester City having good spells of possession and Everton also having their moments. The stand out moment from a City point of view was a driving run on the left hand side by Nico O’Reilly in the opening minute of the match. Everton had their own moments also, a cross from Vitalii Mykolenko from Everton’s left hand side where Jack Harrison and Abdoulaye Doucoré combined to snuff out their own chance at the back post in the 8th minute being their most dangerous moment.

The first shot on target for Manchester City came in the 15th minute. After a spell of possession, Ilkay Gundogan teed up Matheus Nunes just outside the Everton penalty area. His left-footed strike was well saved by Jordan Pickford low down to his left.

After Matheus Nunes’ effort on goal, the game lacked any real spark up until the half-hour mark. Pep Guardiola’s side had good spells of possession but there was no real attacking threat to their play. Everton defended well and were well organised at the back and had their own spells of possession. But neither side created any chances of not as the two teams were cancelling each other out.

James Tarkowski hits the bar as the score remains nil-all.

Everton came close to opening the scoring in the 31st minute. A James Garner corner was headed onto the post by James Tarkowski. Tarkowski was unlucky to see his header hit the post as Stefan Ortega was well beaten. The corner came after a good spell of Everton pressure as David Moyes’ side began to up the ante.

Kevin De Bruyne would see a goal bound effort blocked on the line by Jake O’Brien in the 43rd minute. Bernardo Silva played in Matheus Nunes on the right and his cross was deflected into the path of De Bruyne. He hit a powerful left-footed strike on goal and he would’ve opened the scoring if not for the quality block from O’Brien.

That would be the final moment of note in the first as the referee blew for halftime without any injury time. That was probably for the best based on how the first half unfolded.

Second half

Manchester City needed to up the ante in the second half but it was Everton who almost opened the scoring straight after the interval in the 46th minute. A free kick was played into the area and it fell to Jarrad Branthwaite. His header was well-saved by Stefan Ortega. A minute later an Abdoulaye Doucoré shot was blocked by Bernardo Silva in the area after Ortega flapped at a cross from the right-hand side.

Pep Guardiola’s simply needed to lift.

It has to be said that there needed to be more urgency to Manchester City’s play. They desperately needed to pick three points today but it was Everton who were looking more dangerous in the final third.

In the 60th minute, Stefan Ortega once again kept the score at nil-all with a fine save. A ridiculous ball from Bernardo Silva gifted Everton the opportunity to counter. They worked their way into the box, and Abdoulaye Doucoré fired in a shot, which Ortega saved well at his near post. But the chance came from a ridiculous attempt at a through ball from Bernardo Silva who was struggling to get into the game.

Ilkay Gundogan hit a shot straight at Jordan Pickford in the 70th minute after a nice piece of interplay between himself and Omar Marmoush. That was City’s first shot on target in the second half. Manchester City were in desperate need of some inspiration in the final third.

A minute later Savinho saw a right-footed shot saved by Jordan Pickford. City were raising their intensity as they pushed to find a goal to break the deadlock. They simply had to if they were to pick up three precious points.

Jordan Pickford denied Omar Marmoush in the 82nd minute after a poor defensive header from Michael Keane. The chance came after Bernardo Silva played in a speculative long ball behind the Everton defence.

NICO O’REILLY GIVES MANCHESTER CITY THE LEAD!!!!!!!

In the 84th minute, Manchester City would take the lead through a poachers finish from Nico O’Reilly. Some neat interplay on the right wing from Bernardo Silva provided Matheus Nunes with the opportunity to cross. He played in a quality ball and Nico O’Reilly arrived at the near post to tap in the opener in front of Michael Keane. It was a massive goal in the context of the game and City’s season.

MATEO KOVACIC WRAPS UP ALL THREE POINTS FOR PEP GUARDIOLA’S SIDE!!!!

In the 92nd minute, after a quality build-up, Manchester City would seal all three points for Pep Guardiola’s side. Another well-worked build-up from the world champions saw Ilkay Gundogan tee up Mateo Kovacic for a shot from the edge of the penalty area. He fired a low drive past Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal to make it 2-nil and it was game over at Goodison Park.

City player ratings

Stefan Ortega-7.5/10: Made several crucial saves but his distribution was poor on occasions. But his job is to keep goals out and he did that superbly.

Matheus Nunes-8/10: He set up O’Reilly’s opener and played well both defensively and going forward. He’s playing well at right-back and is making a case to be a solid squad member for City going forward.

Ruben Dias-7/10: Did his job well at the back and was strong defensively when his team needed him.

Josko Gvardiol-8.5/10: For me, Gvardiol was City’s man-of-the-match. He was brilliant at the back in one of his best performances for the season.

Nico O’Reilly-8/10: Scored the opener and is showing that he belongs as a regular starter in Pep Guardiola’s side. He also defended well when required. Manchester City have found a serious player in O’Reilly.

Nico- 7/10: He had his nervous moments in possession but overall he played well in midfield before being substituted.

Ilkay Gundogan-7/10: He grew into the game as Manchester City took control of the game in the second half. His assist for Kovacic’s goal was brilliant.

Kevin De Bruyne-7/10: He was Manchester City’s most dangerous attacking player for the majority of the game. He remains vital to City’s play as he displayed at Goodison Park.

Savinho-6/10: Outside of De Bruyne Savinho was City’s biggest attacking threat. He was better in the second half than the first before being substituted.

Bernardo Silva-5.5/10: He played a key role in City’s opening goal but over the 90 minutes he wasn’t at his best.

Omar Marmoush-6.5/10: He grew into the game after a quiet first half. His movement became key to Manchester City’s attacking play as the game went on.

Substitutes

Mateo Kovacic-7/10:  Scored the sealer and played well after coming on.

Jeremy Doku-8/10: Doku put in a brilliant cameo performance. He ran the tired Everton defence ragged which is a credit to him.

Manuel Akanji-N/A: Not on long enough to mark but it was good to see him back on the pitch.