Manchester City increased their hope for securing Champions League football for next season, because they scored two late goals to achieve a 2-0 win over Everton.
City had to wait until the 84th minute to break the impasse during their last trip to Goodison Park, where younger Nico O'Reilly placed them in the front with a close-range finish after the defense of Everton Pep Guardiola had frustrated for a large part of the game.
Guardiola would hope that the 5-2 victory on Crystal Palace meant a turning point in the run-in last time. Instead, City has passed a difficult time and struggled to find rhythm or clear opportunities for a large part of the competition.
But it was O'Reilly-Vers of his first senior goal against Palace-Die Het Lage Cross of Matheus Nunes delivered with a composed first finish to open the score.
As soon as one goal arrived, another followed when Mateo Kovacic sealed the points with an excellent finish on the slide in the stopping time.
Everton had beaten the pole in the best chance of a Cagey first half by a colored header by James Tarkowski, who was then injured, while Kevin De Bruyne saw his curly strike excellent flocked by Jake O'Brien.
Jarrad Branthwaite also saw a Header from Close-Range rescued by Stefan Ortega early in the second half, while Savinho Jordan Pickford tested with a handful driven shots when City ended the night with 2.09 expected goals (XG), an honest step from Everton's 0.93 XG.
City is moving to fourth place, only one point behind Newcastle United Prior to the collision of the Magpies with Aston Villa, while Everton remains in 13th place after he has lost a Premier League match for the first time since January.
Full -time | Three big points!
0-2 #mancity | @okx pic.twitter.com/ZVWIMNG2D1
– Manchester City (@Mancity) April 19, 2025
Debrief data: Tarkowski's immense start run in danger?
James Tarkowski is at a point of 111 consecutive Premier League Start. The only outfield players with more consecutive starts in the history of the competition are Frank Lampard (112 consecutive starts in December 2005) and Wayne Bridge (113 consecutive starts in January 2003).
It is a pity that the veteran defender was enforced with an injury, because it looks like that run could end up now. And after he left, Everton struggled to keep the city at bay. The visitors ended with 12 shots and 2.09 expected goals, but five of their seven shots came to goal in the second half.
O'reilly made the difference and he is certainly a clear spark.
After 20 years and 29 days he became the fourth-jongest player who scored in back-to-back Premier League performances for City after Kelechi Iheanacho (19 years and 211d), Gabriel Jesus (19 years 308 days) and Phil Foden (20 years and 25 days).
O'Reilly had a hand in six goals during his last six performances for City in all competitions (four goals, two assists).