Manchester City's Superb Win at Everton Completes Perfect Start to Season

Goodison Park is a relic of the past. While many other Premier League sides have moved to new stadiums in fairly recent times, Everton have remained at the same home they’ve inhabited since 1892. Camped inside a working-class housing estate, with a statue of Dixie Dean stood proudly at one end, it’s a throwback to a different era of top-flight football.

Manchester City have often struggled to get a result there, particularly when Everton were under the stewardship of David Moyes. Moyes’ Everton were physical and direct, and City too often struggled to handle them. They lost four on bounce at Goodison between 2010-2013; it had become one of the most daunting trips on City’s calendar.

Under Roberto Martinez, though, things have changed. The Spaniard has attempted to evolve his team, making them more possession-based and attack-minded. On the whole, it’s a more welcome style for the Everton fans, but it makes thing easier for City, who prefer going up against sides that try to get the ball down and pass, rather than those who park the bus.

Their 2-0 win on Sunday was the seventh point from a possible nine they’ve taken from Goodison since Manuel Pellegrini was appointed City manager in 2013. This one, though, was achieved in style. They may have won at Everton in recent memory, but they haven't controlled a game in quite the same way they did on Sunday. 

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

No longer, it seems, does the hoodoo exist. It’s a result that continues City’s 100 per cent start to the season. They have nine points from a possible nine and have yet to concede a goal. It’s been a flawless few games.

That’s not to say this was an easy afternoon for the early Premier League leaders. This was by far their sternest test of the season so far. Where West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea were completely overwhelmed by City’s quick passing style and pace on the break, Everton stood up well to their quality for long periods. City had to show patience to break them down, but their class eventually told.

After a fairly even first half in which Everton rallied just before half-time and could have gone ahead, City gradually took control in the second period. David Silva, whose start to the season suggests he is set to take his game to new heights in the coming months, dictated play, with the pace and balance provided by Raheem Sterling down City's left creating space for the Spaniard.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Indeed, it was Sterling who made the opener, going at Seamus Coleman before patiently waiting for Aleksandar Kolarov to join him in attack. The former Liverpool man slipped a neat ball into the path of the Serbian, who looks completely reborn after the summer break, and he finished from an acute angle. Tim Howard will be disappointed with his role in the goal—a top-class ‘keeper can’t be beaten at his near post so easily.

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MATCH SHOT: Kolarov celebrates breaking the deadlock here at Goodison Park. #evertonvcity #MCFC pic.twitter.com/KD0CVlwQ4u

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) August 23, 2015"

“We have a different pace with Sterling,” said Pellegrini, succinctly summing up his impact after the match. It’s becoming increasingly clear that few players would have had quite such the impact on this side Sterling has. In theory, he ticked every box prior to his arrival—pace, dribbling ability, confidence—and that’s been borne out in every game so far.

City’s second was beautifully crafted. Samir Nasri, who came on for Sterling in an attempt by Pellegrini to slow the game down and see City retain possession, played a wonderful one-two with Yaya Toure before producing a cute lob over Howard.

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Enjoyed the one-two with my boy @SamNasri19 🔥🔥🔥 #CityFamily pic.twitter.com/DWtsvcqDDt

— Yaya Touré (@YayaToure) August 23, 2015"

“We are confident we must have an important squad and not just a team,” said Pellegrini afterwards in attempt to create even more competition for starting places. “That is why it is important the substitutes did very well also. We are just playing one game a week, but we will play eight games in a month.”

Jon Super/Associated Press

But where City will perhaps be most enthused is in defence. Vincent Kompany was back to his absolute best—a huge boost to a City team that had struggled for consistency during his extended period of poor form.

The rash positioning and overeagerness to make tackles has been replaced by a calmer, more assured Kompany. His Man of the Match award was surely sealed by his off-the-line clearance from Gareth Barry’s effort in the second half, and the quality he has shown in each game of the season suggests his hard work over the summer is paying off.

And alongside him, Eliaquim Mangala continues to show signs of significant improvement. He wasn’t perfect in this game—a rash challenge that saw him booked and a careless backheel with the game finely balanced at 1-0 showed he’s still developing—but he looks a different player to the one who struggled to adapt to English football last season.

Positionally he looks far more astute, clearly growing in confidence and feels he belongs at the highest level. Nicolas Otamendi, who signed for City from Valencia for more than £30 million Thursday, will have to wait to dislodge the 23-year-old Frenchman.

It was City’s ninth straight league win, equalling a club record that has stood since 1912. Three points against Watford at the Etihad on Saturday would see Pellegrini make history.

Of more importance to the Chilean, though, is City look a far slicker outfit than the one that stuttered through the last campaign. What on paper looked a tricky start—with a trip to a Tony Pulis side, a visit of the champions and then a game on a notoriously uncomfortable ground for City—has yielded maximum points. 

It's too early for talk of the title, but City have made by far the best start to this Premier League season. 

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FT: @Everton 0-2 City. Three from three. Eight goals, none conceded. Club record equalled. Not bad! #evertonvcity pic.twitter.com/LlYbUzxQ4g

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) August 23, 2015"

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.