Everton 1-3 Manchester City: Club World Cup champions come from behind to secure win on return to Premier League action

Bernardo Silva, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden were all on target as newly crowned FIFA Club World Cup champions Manchester City returned to Premier League action with a hard-fought 3-1 win at Everton.

The Citizens were aiming to cut the gap on leaders Liverpool following their exploits in Saudi Arabia and made a dominant start with Jordan Pickford producing fine saves to deny Matheus Nunes, Alvarez and Jack Grealish.

Everton slowly worked their way into the contest and stunned the visitors on 29 minutes when ex-City winger Jack Harrison tucked in Dwight McNeil’s cut back from the left.

The away side continued to probe following the interval and Foden dragged them level with a 25-yard rocket on 53 minutes.

City’s tails were now up and the champions took the lead just after the hour when Alvarez fired his spot kick underneath Pickford.

Everton missed a great chance to level through substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin before The Citizens sealed the points thanks to Bernardo Silva’s clinical finish four minutes from the end.

The result sees Guardiola’s side rise to fourth in the table, five points off the summit with a game in hand. Everton stay 17th and are a point above Luton having played a game more.

Next up, The Toffees visit Wolves on Saturday while Man City host Sheffield United.

Guardiola had spoken about starting a new chapter/book after completing the circle with the Club World Cup success and in that respect his team are off to the best possible start.

This was always going to be a tricky return to the domestic scene and an improving Everton gave them a scare in their first league match since December 16.

City remain desperate to claim a fourth Premier League title in a row for the first time and only a second league win in seven outings was much-needed as they aim to reel in the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal in the coming weeks, with the key men such as Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Kevin de Bruyne still to return.

The 23-year-old was lively throughout, often injecting some much-needed urgency into City’s patient possession game. He scored a stunner to pull his team level and could have added to his tally but for some fine goalkeeping and the woodwork.

EVERTON: Pickford 8, Patterson 7, Tarkowski 7, Branthwaite 7, Mykolenko 7, Gomes 7, Onana 7, Harrison 8, Garner 7, McNeil 7, Beto 7. Subs: Keane 6, Calvert-Lewin 6, Danjuma n/a.

MAN CITY: Ederson 7, Walker 7, Stones 6, Akanji 7, Ake 7, Nunes 6, Rodri 7, Silva 8, Foden 9, Grealish 8, Alvarez 8. Subs: Gvardiol 6, Kovacic 6.

15’ – MAN CITY CHANCE! A surging run from Grealish carves Everton open. It’s poked through for Nunes who has a low shot brilliantly saved by Pickford. The England keeper is quick to his feet and pulls off another key stop to divert Alvarez’s follow-up wide.

29’ – GOAL! – Everton 1-0 Man City: (Harrison) Jack Harrison darts to the near post to tuck home McNeil’s low pass from the left after City made a mess of dealing with Beto and Gomes just outside the area.

53’ – GOAL! – Everton 1-1 Man City: (Foden) City take a corner short and pass from side to side until Foden steps it up with a rasping 25-yard strike that beats Pickford low at his left-hand post.

64’ – GOAL! – Everton 1-2 Man City: (Alvarez pen) Alvarez just about squeezes his spot kick down the middle, underneath the legs of the diving Pickford to put the visitors in front. The penalty was awarded after Onana was adjudged to have blocked Ake’s shot with his raised arm.

75’ – EVERTON CHANCE! Calvert-Lewin flicks wide of the near post after a fine run and cross from Harrison on the right.

86’ – GOAL! – Everton 1-3 Man City: (Silva) It’s all over! Silva curls a 20-yard shot into the far corner of an empty net after Pickford’s clearance was blocked into his path.