The Premier League trophy Manchester City have proudly held for the past four years will be soon heading to one side of Stanley Park but, after exploding to life late against Everton, they took an important step towards Champions League qualification on the other. Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic sealed a victory that even Pep Guardiola may not have seen coming to edge City towards a place among the European elite for a 15th season in succession.
A goalless draw appeared the most likely outcome for most of a pedestrian contest but a late twist, shaped by the positive impact of Guardiola’s substitutions and David Moyes’ subs having the opposite effect, saw City seize control of the closing stages and secure a ninth consecutive win at Goodison.
