MANCHESTER CITY TOP TABLE AS ERLING HAALAND NETS TWO AGAINST EVERTON
Erling Haaland's brace powers Man City to a 2-0 win over Everton. The Norwegian now has 23 goals in 13 games this season, bringing his Premier League total to 96 as City broke down a stubborn Toffees defence.
At the Etihad Stadium, the prolific Norwegian scored a vital goal in a close Premier League match, bringing his season total to an incredible 23 goals in just 13 games for club and country.
In minute 58, Haaland broke the tie with a strong header, and five minutes later, he scored his first goal.
Before that, City had encountered Everton's stubbornness at the back with England custodian Jordan Pickford, who continued his excellent recent play and secured a new deal this week.
The visitors occasionally posed a threat at the other end, although lacking the dynamism of City player Jack Grealish, who is currently on loan.
Although Haaland had been playing a relatively quiet game, his clinical goals just before the hour mark once more demonstrated why defences can never relax when the 25-year-old is on the pitch.
He has now scored in 11 straight games for either City or Norway, and after just 105 appearances, he is quickly reaching a century in the Premier League with 96 goals to his name.
He joined the team from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 and has since scored 138 goals in 155 games.
After Nathan Aké threw the ball away, City avoided a fright after Nico O'Reilly's first chance went wide. Stretching, Beto was unable to make any significant contact with the low ball that Iliman Ndiaye swooped and blasted across the area.
Pickford stopped Savinho at the other end, and as Haaland lurked at a corner, Jake O'Brien diverted the ball onto the Everton woodwork, nearly giving City the lead.
Although a flag was thrown, Beto should have scored for Everton, and Ndiaye drove into the area and forced a fine save from Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Haaland started a City break, but Jeremy Doku had a feeble shot at Pickford before the England number one stopped Savinho's next attempt.
Just before the hour, Pickford was eventually defeated when Phil Foden unleashed O'Reilly with a brilliant through pass, and Haaland's full-blooded header met his cross from the right.
James Garner's shot was deflected wide as Everton attempted a swift response, and calls for a handball were unsuccessful.
Shortly after, Haaland scored his second goal when Savinho was taken off, thus ending the match. The forward's strike was not clean, but Pickford was blinded by James Tarkowski and was unable to stop it.
Haaland nearly had the last say as Pickford twice denied him a hat-trick in stoppage time, but Everton fought on, and substitute Merlin Rohl headed just wide.
HOW PEP GUARDIOLA’S ROTATION IS SABOTAGING PHIL FODEN’S 2026 WORLD CUP DREAMS
Thomas Tuchel admits Phil Foden is "struggling" and offers no guarantee for a World Cup spot after poor England form.
Phil Foden just hasn’t found his groove with the England squad lately. After friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, manager Thomas Tuchel pointed out that Foden isn’t in top shape, and it might cost him a World Cup spot.
Even at Manchester City, Foden’s spot in the starting lineup isn’t a sure thing anymore. Still, Tuchel picked him for the internationals and put him in the starting eleven both times. Instructions first, behind Doand's instructions, and Dominic Solanke for the Uruguay match, then behind Morgan Rogers when they faced Japan. But neither game saw Foden really come alive for England.
Tuchel didn’t hide his disappointment. “He tried everything,” he said. “He was outstanding in training, but once the game started, he just couldn’t bring that same energy to the pitch.”
Tuchel also mentioned that Foden just hasn’t been getting enough minutes at City. Even so, he arrived at the training camp in good spirits and looked sharp during the sessions. “I honestly thought he’d bring that spark into the games. But he’s struggling to show what he’s capable of.”
When reporters asked if he’d really take a player who isn’t playing much for his club, isn’t in form, and hasn’t been making an impact for England, Tuchel was upfront: “Yeah, I can take him. The question is whether we actually will. There’s no guarantee he’ll make the squad.”
Now, Foden has about two months to turn things around before Tuchel names England’s World Cup squad. “I’m always learning,” Tuchel said. “Every training session, I see how the team fits, how the players respond to times applied and instructions, how quickly they catch on. Instructions were followed time and time again, and then applied during matches.”
Everything’s still up for grabs. The priority now is for the players to finish strong with their clubs, then come back ready for England training camp. That’s when Tuchel and his team will make the final calls.
DISCOVER THE REGISTRATION RULE THAT BARRED MARC GUEHI FROM MAN CITY’S FINAL
Pep Guardiola criticises EFL rules after Marc Guehi is barred from the Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal.
Marc Guehi was bursting with pride watching his Manchester City teammates receive their Carabao Cup winners’ medals. Even though he couldn’t grab one for himself, he cheered them on.
The 25-year-old missed out at Wembley in City’s 2-0 win over Arsenal. It wasn’t because he was cup-tied, even though he’d played in this competition earlier in the season for Crystal Palace before joining City in January. If that was the rule, Antoine Semenyo, who also arrived in January, would have sat out too. But that wasn’t it. Guehi simply wasn’t registered with City before the first leg of their semi-final against Newcastle, so he wasn’t allowed to play.
Semenyo got lucky. The city signed and registered him in time, so he was eligible for the showdown with Newcastle and beyond.
So, Guehi had to watch the final from the sidelines while City chased their ninth League Cup success. You could tell from his social media that he was heartbroken not to be out there. He posted a slow-mo video of the team lifting the cup at Wembley and wrote, “What a team and performance. So proud of the boys.”
Before the final, Pep Guardiola didn’t hide his irritation about Guehi’s absence. At his press conference, he said, “Hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup (EFL) that Marc can play the final. I don’t understand why he can’t. Maybe we should write a letter. You buy a player for a lot of money, and he can’t play because of a rule I don’t get. Hopefully, they will change it. It’s hard to understand.”
So City relied on Abdukodir Khusanov and Nathan Ake at the back. Both the Uzbek and Dutch defenders were rock solid against Arsenal.
Nico O’Reilly stole the show with a pair of fantastic goals, charging forward from left-back. After the win, Guardiola was glowing: “For James [Trafford] it was his first final. Khusanov’s only been here one year; Nico O’Reilly has impressed me in his first full season, and Antoine [Semenyo] played his first final. Lots of players are having a good first taste – that’s what we need. Shows us we can do it.
“We’re much better than last season, but not quite the team we want to be yet. That takes time. Hopefully by next season or the end of this one we’ll get there.”
