Everton vs. Manchester City: Winners and Losers from Premier League Game
Manchester City made it three wins from three at the start of the new Premier League season with a 2-0 triumph over Everton on Sunday.
Manuel Pellegrini's side, which came into the game on the back of a resounding 3-0 triumph over reigning champions Chelsea, broke the deadlock on the hour mark through defender Aleksandar Kolarov.
Everton, who saw a Romelu Lukaku goal disallowed in the first half for offside, huffed and puffed in an attempt to get back on level terms.
However, the visitors guaranteed themselves three points in the closing minutes when substitute Samir Nasri lifted the ball over Tim Howard to double his side's lead.
The win means Manchester City have now won nine league games on the spin, a run that stretches back to the end of the last campaign.
Here, B/R picks out the winners and losers from the entertaining clash at Goodison Park.
Winner: David Silva
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Like Manchester City, David Silva has started the season in outstanding form.
The Spain international has been influential in a central role in the opening three games. Former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot summed it up nicely on Twitter by saying, "Silva makes the game look like he's just playing a 5 a side game with his boys in the park!"
His performance could have been rewarded with a goal, with only the post denying him from breaking the deadlock in the opening minutes of the second half.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp was certainly impressed by Silva's display (h/t Your MCFC): "We should just do the man of the match interviews with him before the game to save time."
Loser: Everton's Left-Backs
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Brendan Galloway has helped Everton fans forget about the absence of the injured Leighton Baines in the first two games of the season.
His manager, Roberto Martinez, went so far as to say that the young left-back's performance in the 3-0 win over Southampton would have caught the attention of watching England manager Roy Hodgson, per Neil Jones of the Liverpool Echo.
However, Galloway found himself under siege against Manchester City. The combination of defender Bacary Sagna and winger Jesus Navas caused him plenty of problems, though he didn't receive a lot of help from his team-mates.
The England Under 19 international had twisted and turned so often in the first half that he eventually suffered a knee injury. Martinez said after the game, per Everton's official Twitter feed, "Brendan Galloway has a patella tendon problem and we'll assess him in the next 24-48 hours."
Tyias Browning came on to replace him, and although the substitute did not find life much easier, the experience will have done Everton's two young full-backs a power of good at the start of their careers.
Winner: Manchester City's Defence
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Manchester City have yet to concede a goal at the start of the new season.
Their run of three clean sheets is even more impressive considering they have now faced Chelsea at home and also travelled away to take on Everton.
Vincent Kompany has returned to somewhere near his best at the heart of the back four, while Eliaquim Mangala has settled in after a rough first season.
According to Squawka Football on Twitter, the pair combined to win all of their aerial duels against the Toffees while also making 11 clearances and completing eight interceptions.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini now also has new recruit Nicolas Otamendi in his ranks, though the Argentina centre back was not involved against Everton due to work-permit issues, per Ian Ladyman of the Mail.
Loser: Romelu Lukaku
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Manchester City ended up winning comfortably. However, the game could have been very different had Everton taken the lead in the first half.
The hosts thought they had gone ahead when Ross Barkley's slide-rule pass allowed Romelu Lukaku to slot the ball beyond visiting goalkeeper Joe Hart and into the net.
However, the eagle-eyed linesman had spotted the Belgium striker just offside. It was an extremely tight call, as a picture tweeted by Sky Sports shows.
Lukaku also found the woodwork working against him—his well-struck free-kick right before the break clipped the bar and went over, with Hart rooted to the spot in the visiting goal.
Winner: Manchester City's New-Look Left Flank
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The Everton fans booed Raheem Sterling throughout the game, though it didn't seem to bother the former Liverpool player at all.
His partnership with Aleksandar Kolarov down the left side of Manchester City's team looks like the pair have been playing together for years, rather than a matter of weeks.
It was Sterling's well-weighted pass that set up the chance for Kolarov to break the deadlock from a tight angle after 60 minutes.
The full-back fired his shot beyond Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard, in the process scoring his first goal inside the box since the 2011-12 season, according to Squawka Football.
Loser: Everton's Chances of Retaining John Stones
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It must have been bittersweet for Everton fans to watch John Stones turn in an excellent performance in the 2-0 defeat.
His manager, Roberto Martinez, was certainly impressed by the England international, per Squawka News: "It puts a smile on your face to see him play, He's an incredible footballer, at such a young age."
But, while Stones was a plus point for Everton in a losing cause, his display will do little to silence talk of a potential move to Chelsea before the summer transfer window closes.
The reigning Premier League champions have tabled three unsuccessful bids for the player so far.
Stones was reportedly ready to ask his current employers to allow him to leave, per John Richardson of the Express.
With Chelsea captain John Terry sent off in their 3-2 win over West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, journalist Henry Winter couldn't help but speculate on Stones' future on Twitter: "Terry off. Then #wba score again. That's another couple of million on the next #cfc bid for Stones. (nb #efc insist they won't sell)."
