Aleksandar Kolarov scored the first goal of the game as Manchester City beat Everton 2-0 to maintain a perfect start to the season.
Manchester City looked like they would put themselves into an early lead after a bright start, but Tim Howard made two good saves to keep the scoreline level.
Gradually, Everton grew into the game, and Romelu Lukaku had a goal disallowed for a tight (but correct) offside decision, and just before the end of the half, he struck a free kick against the cross bar.
In the second half, City took the lead when David Silva and Raheem Sterlingcombined to release Kolarov, who beat Howard at the near post with a clever shot. City were able to absorb the pressure from Everton and controlled the game until the final whistle.
With two minutes to go, Samir Nasri pulled off a neat lob after a superb ball into the box from Yaya Toure to secure victory.
KEY EVENTS
2′ – AGUERO SHOT – Aguero runs onto a blocked shot from Silva, and blasts a shot at a tight angle against Howard.
9′ – AGUERO SHOT – Navas and Silva exchange passes, and Navas pulls a pass back across the box for Aguero, who strikes at goal only for Howard to block with his feet.
14′ – SILVA SHOT – Silva picks up a backheel outside the box, and he lets fly with a shot from outside the box, but it’s straight at Howard.
28′ – HOWARD SAVE – Sterling cuts onto his right foot and wobbles a shot at the near post, forcing Howard to beat the ball behind.
45+4′ – LUKAKU FREE KICK – Lukaku strikes the free kick with his left foot, and withHart going the wrong way – to his left – it clips the top of the bar and goes over.
47′ – SILVA SHOT – Silva hits the post when Sterling slides through a pass for his run in the box.
60′ – GOAL! Everton 0-1 Manchester City. Kolarov scores – Silva releases Sterling down the left, he comes onto his right foot and slides a short pass down the side of the box for Kolarov. He sees Howard just off his line and beats him at the near post.
88′ – GOALL! Everton 0-2 Manchester City. Nasri scores – Nasri plays a one-two with Toure, who provides a great pass into the box, and lifts the ball over Howard and into the goal.
KEY STATS
Manchester City have won their first three Premier League games.
This is only the fourth Premier League game in 18 that Everton have lost at home to Manchester City.
Raheem Sterling ended a run of 12 Premier League games without an assist, since getting two v Man City in March.
Aleksandr Kolarov has scored in all six of his Premier League seasons at City.
Samir Nasri has scored his first PL goal v Everton since 2008, ending a run of 11 games without one against the Toffees.
Manchester City have won nine top-flight league games in succession for the first time since September 1912.
Roberto Martinez has won only two points in 13 Premier League games against Manchester City as a manager (W0 D2 L11).
Yaya Toure has assisted in three of his last four v Everton in the Premier League; scoring in the other match.
TALKING POINT
Manchester City are the only side to have won their first three games of the season. The surprise is not that City can play this well, it is that they are doing so, and doing so consistently for Manuel Pellegrini. With Fabian Delph, Nicolas Otamendi, Raheem Sterling and soon Kevin De Bruyne, City can claim to have the best squad in the league. It is now theirs to lose, though clearly that is possible so early in the season.
MAN OF THE MATCH
David Silva (Manchester City): Silva shows what a playmaker can do when given the space and players to work in, but he also has rare qualities for a player in his position. He can shield the ball, uses it well in tight spaces and isn’t noticeably weaker than bigger opponents. Today he was essential in helping the side break down Everton.
PLAYER RATINGS
Everton: Howard 6, Galloway 5, Jagielka 6, Stones 6, Coleman 6, Barry 5, McCarthy 6, Cleverley 6, Barkley 6, Kone 5, Lukaku 6. Subs: Naismith 6, Deulofeu 6, Browning 6.
Man City: Hart 6, Kolarov 7, Kompany 6, Mangala 6, Sagna 6, Fernandinho 6, Toure 6, Sterling 6, Silva 7, Navas 5, Aguero 7. Subs: Nasri 7, Bony 6, Delph 6.
