'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Goodison Park saw the triumph of the Blues, just not the shade that the Merseyside crowd had been hoping for. The Sky Blues of Manchester overcame the blues of Merseyside as goals from Aleksander Kolarov and Samir Nasri sealed the deal for City. Another clean sheet, another victory for Manchester City and a statement of "catch us if you can" was firmly etched in the minds of all Premier League rivals as another near perfect display from the Citizens hoisted them up to the summit of the league table. Everton huffed and puffed and put on another gritty show but still couldn't get the label of "pretenders" off of their shoulders.Manuel Pellegrini's men were dominant and during some instances of the game, flawless. We discuss the five biggest talking points from the game.
#1 Man City were Dominant
Yes, “dominant”. That’s the word I am going for and sticking with; when I have to describe Manchester City as a whole. Right now there is no other club at their level in the Premier League. They are refined in their movement and passing as well as understanding of what they want to do each time they take to the field. Nine goals in three games and none conceded; that’s what championship form looks like.
It’s not just Sergio Aguero’s finishing or David Silva’s silky skills with the ball or Yaya Toure’s bulldozing displays in the middle of the park. The team as a whole is functioning like clockwork and right now it is difficult to point out any weaknesses.
If Manchester City moving forward was a sight to behold, something you would pay to watch, their defence and commitment just brutalised any onslaught that their opponents might bring. Kompany looks sharp as ever (it would surprise me even this early on if he doesn’t again get into the PFA XI). Even Mangala looks even more comfortable than before. He took on all comers and came out with the battle scars of a victor.
#2 Everton still a notch below top 4
Everton shouldn’t really go into the dressing room at the end of the ninety minutes with heads bowed. They really did give it all, but they were just outplayed and outmanoeuvred by a better team. They are a side one would pay to watch and even on this day would have had many a side on the ropes. But, just not Manchester City in this mood.
Romelu Lukaku was a beast of a presence. Ross Barkley looks intent on making this season his coming out party. Seamus Coleman yet again proved why he is rated as one of the best if not the best right-back across the league.
Roberto Martinez himself should be praised for getting his team set in the right frame of mind. They certainly gave it all. It’s just that their all was not enough to hurt Manchester City.
They have been pushing forward for quite a while now and I wouldn’t be surprised if they finished in the top four this season. But, today showed that they are still a notch below the actual heavyweights. With some more time and astute investment, Everton can surely bring back their glory days.
#3 Sterling looking sharp, David Silva lordly
Raheem Sterling was welcomed to the best sound a player can get at the professional level; the boos from the opposing fans. He is yet to totally bed into the way of things at Manchester City, but he is slowly but surely making his presence felt. He was pretty well contained on the left-hand side by Seamus Coleman but still managed to make a decisive impact on the game.
But, he is making more than an impact with his play. His presence on the left has let David Silva come back to his telling best in the middle of the park. Unlike last season, when we saw Silva play more on the left, the Spanish international has been able to move into a more central role where he has had more than a telling effect.
The fleet-footed Spaniard was again imperious in the middle today, notching up his third Man of the Match award in as many games. His penetrating runs and jaw-dropping skills on the ball were again there for all to witness. In fact, to put it in numbers, he had 96 touches in the game, hit the crossbar once and misplaced only 9 balls in the game. His impact was exemplified even more when his quick feet allowed him to get past three rather imposing Everton men to help set up the second for City.
His presence in these vital areas is a big reason why Manchester City seemed to have come out of the blocks with a vengeance this time around. If he keeps this up, he is going to give the EPL a hard time.
#4 Tim Howard\'s error in an otherwise solid performance
Tim Howard was actually superb during 99% of the game. He produced a few marvelous saves and used every part of his body (literally) to keep City out. The American not only dealt with the long punts from Yaya Toure and Raheem Sterling with ease but also showed that even at the age of 36 he has the reflexes, as he got down superbly to turn Sergio Aguero’s ravishing attempt away.
However, not many will remember this game for all his heroics. It will rather be remembered for that 1% when Howard let his concentration down, letting go of the near post to allow Aleksandar Kolarov to slot in the opener for Manchester City. Kolarov had tricked the goalkeeper by eyeing a cross before taking the shot.
This is the harsh life of a goalkeeper and that’s how it is going to remain. Howard will just have to get up the next day, shrug it off and get on with it.
#5 Yaya Toure and the defence are back again
I still remember the 2013/14 season pretty well, when Manchester City won the title. I am not a Manchester City fan, but if I was, there would be two definitive points to which I would owe the title to. The form of Yaya Toure and the defence.
Last season saw a fall in standards both in the standard of the Cote d’Voire international as well as the vaunted rearguard action of the Citizens. Three games into the season and those two things seem to be back in place.
Toure has already notched up three assists and a goal in three games this season. His sublime no-look chipped pass to set up Samir Nasri’s cheeky little finish to put the final nail in the Everton coffin was sensational to say the least. His omnipresence in the middle also helped in keeping Ross Barkley and his marauding runs in check with the help of Fernandinho.
The defence too looks water tight as Vincent Kompany seems to have returned to his best. With Mangala also looking more than comfortable and the pair of Bacary Sagna and Kolarov looking nonplussed, not many can argue that good days lie ahead for Manchester City fans if things stay as they are.
