In a terrific fight for the remaining three spots which lead to the Champions League next season, Manchester City has the best option of making it. The current champions have a strong squad, better individuals and perhaps the easiest schedule until the end. Apart from Aston Villa, the Citizens are playing against Wolves, Southampton, Bournemouth and Fulham so it can be said that today‘s Everton game was one of the two remaining challenges for Pep Guardiola‘s men. After 90 minutes the Citizens are going home with all three points, which they didn‘t deserve: Everton – Manchester City 0-2.20 – Aged 20 years and 29 days, Nico O’Reilly is the fourth-youngest player to score in back-to-back Premier League appearances for Manchester City, and youngest since Phil Foden in June 2020 (20y 25d). Breakthrough. pic.twitter.com/jwPOuYOAxx— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 19, 2025 This was a dull game, plain and simple, mainly due to the fact that the home team was well organized and played firmly while not attacking so much, which gave them concentration to keep the score 0-0 almost until the end. But in one moment of deconcentration, the Toffies allowed City‘s kid Nico O‘Riley to score in the 85th minute, leaving David Moyes‘ men without time to attack. When they tried, they allowed another one, as Mateo Kovacic made the final score in 92nd minute. They should be angry with themselves as they not only stopped City until the 85th minute, but they had better chances and should have scored at least once. The game should have been finished with a draw, but justice is not the main word in football.⚽️ GOAL: O’Reilly🏴 Everton 0-1 Manchester Citypic.twitter.com/NLnbroDFmX— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) April 19, 2025 There were only two interesting chances for City in the first half. First one came from Matheus Nunes, when his shot from distance was saved by Pickford while the second one was the biggest in the first 45 minutes, when Tarkowski hit the bar after the corner in the 30th minute. The Citizens had the ball 70% of the time, but that didn‘t transfer into any goals or chances. Man City have had just four touches in the Everton box in the first half, which was only a proof how well David Moyes’ side was organized in defense. The Toffies again had a great chance just at the beginning of the second half. Branthwaite steered the ball towards goal but was denied by an outstretched hand from Ortega, from point-blank range. The Citizens played the other half of the game in pretty much same fashion – without chances, but for some strange reason, Pep Guardiola made the first changes in the 78th minute, when Kovacic and Doku were introduced for Savinho and Nico Gonzalez. Five minutes later, Marmoush had this key chance which Pickford instinctively saved, but O‘Riley was merciless in the 85th minute. Everton had little time to try to equalize and Mateo Kovačić stopped all those attempts with an injury-time winner. PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 33SaturdayBrentford – Brighton 4-2 (1-1)/Mbuemo 9, 48, Wissa 58, Norgaard 90+5 – Welbeck 45+3, Mitoma 81/Crystal Palace – Bournemouth 0-0Everton – Man.City 0-2 (0-0)/O’Riley 85, Kovacic 90+3/West Ham – Southampton 1-1 (1-0)/Bowen 47 – Ugochukwu 90’+3/19:30: (2.45) Aston Villa (3.50) Newcastle (3.00)Sunday16:00: (2.95) Fulham (3.50) Chelsea (2.50)16:00: (7.25) Ipswich (4.40) Arsenal (1.45)16:00: (2.30) Man.Utd. (3.40) Wolverhampton (3.10)18:30: (12.0) Leicester (6.50) Liverpool (1.22)Monday22:00: (2.55) Tottenham (3.50) Nott.Forest (2.85)***odds are subject to change***
