Manchester City, the defending champions, have rekindled their Premier League title challenge after defeating Everton 3-1 at Goodison Park.

The three points were secured for the freshly crowned Club World Cup winners in the second half with goals from Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez, and Bernardo Silva for Pep Guardiola’s team.

Jack Harrison’s goal in the first half gave Everton the lead, and Man City appeared to be losing ground in the title battle as the Toffees tried to increase their chances of surviving.

With a game remaining, Man City’s victory moved them five points behind champions Liverpool, while Everton’s 10-point deduction lifted them one point over the relegation zone.

Ederson: 7

deflected over a strong attempt that was headed for the top corner late in the second half to prevent Harrison from scoring a second goal. could not do much about the opener for the former City player.

Kyle Walker: 6

Made a few of his signature explosive rushes down the right wing, but was unlucky to find himself in a few favorable spots. showed off his leadership abilities by giving City’s soldiers orders while they were having trouble winning the first half.

John Stones: 5

abandoned the game toward the end of the first half after being involved in one of those attacks that were only permitted to continue because the assistant referees had given the order to stop raising their flags for offside. was a major miss in the second half when it came to his passing.

Manuel Akanji (BOOKED) 6

grew into the game following a rocky beginning. Akanji, who is yet unconvinced of his ability to fill the Stones defense-midfield hybrid position, hardly handed up the ball much in the second half.

Nathan Ake, 7

This was a solid effort from the Dutchman, who had to show off his aerial presence a few times in the first half with some strong headers, whether he was playing at left back or center half when Stones hobbled out.

Rodri, 6

After the Spaniard hobbled off at the Club World Cup final, Manchester City supporters were ecstatic to see him back in the starting lineup, but this was an unusually poor evening to cap off an almost flawless 2023. For Everton’s first goal, he lost possession and missed a few shots.

Bernardo Silva – 7.5

Silva, silky. The Portuguese wizard, who frequently wins these difficult road games handily, scored a late goal to seal three points that were doubtful for the majority of the game. helps City dominate games because he gives up so little of the ball.

Matheus Nunes – 7

had the finest opportunity of the first half for City after 14 minutes, finding space in the Everton penalty area and only having it stopped by a superb save by Pickford. Moves through midfield with ease, although he also handed up control a few times for nothing.

Phil Foden (8)

It seemed like City needed a bit of magic because they were having trouble creating opportunities and were without their top three players, Stones, Kevin De Bruyne, and Erling Haaland. With a long-range goal, Foden gave City something and allowed them to get back into the game.

(BOOKED) Jack Grealish – 7

was City’s finest player during the Treble winners’ otherwise subpar first half. was a continual menace on the left wing and had a chance to score in minute 24 but Pickford stopped it with a toe-bunged attempt.

Alvarez Julian – 7.5

Maybe they ought to have scored after 14 minutes. played well as a No 9 in the second half, taking his penalty smartly and developing into the game with superb hold-up play and great touches in confined spaces. has an incredible engine that never quits.

Substitutes:

Josko Gvardiol (for Stones, 43) – 6

Mateo Kovacic (for Nunes, 64) – 6

Stefan Ortega, Rico Lewis, Micah Hamilton, Oscar Bobb, Sergio Gomez, Kalvin Phillips, and Mahamadou Susoho were not used.