Manchester City Beat Everton In First Game As World Champions
Manchester City won 3-1 at Everton on Wednesday in their first Premier League game since lifting the FIFA Club World Cup.
Pep Guardiola made just two changes to the starting XI that had thrashed Brazil's Fluminense 4-0 in Saudi Arabia five days earlier.
City dominated possession from the start at Goodison Park but fell behind against the run of play when Jack Harrison found the net against his former club in the 29th minute.
Harrison had been on City's books for three and a half years between January 2018 and July 2021 but he never played for Guardiola's first team.
City equalized eight minutes into the second half on Wednesday when Phil Foden fired home brilliantly from 25 yards.
The visitors then took the lead 11 minutes later when Julian Alvarez converted a penalty kick awarded after Amadou Onana had blocked a Nathan Ake shot with his right arm.
Manchester City players pictured celebrating following a goal scored by Julian Alvarez (center) during a 3-1 win at Everton on Wednesday
IMAGO/Propaganda Photo/David Rawcliffe
City sealed all three points in the 86th minute when Bernardo Silva produced a fabulous finish to punish an error by Jordan Pickford.
Everton keeper Pickford came out of his penalty area but made a mess of clearing the ball. His attempted clearance deflected off Alvarez and then the shin of Jarrad Branthwaite before Silva lobbed the stranded goalkeeper from 20 yards.
City's victory took Guardiola's men up to fourth in the Premier League table.
