CURRENT REPORT BLOG Erling Haaland marked his return from a nearly two-month absence due to a foot injury by scoring his first goals since November, propelling Manchester City to the top of the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Everton on Saturday. Despite a below-par performance at the Etihad Stadium, City struggled against a resilient Everton side. Haaland’s brace in the late stages of the second half secured the win, with these goals being his first in the Premier League since November 25 and his initial goals in five games across all competitions since the Champions League match against Leipzig on November 28.
City’s triumph placed them back at the top of the table for the first time since November 24. However, their one-point lead over second-placed Liverpool could be short-lived if Liverpool secure a victory against Burnley later on Saturday. Although City has been unbeaten in their last 22 league games at the Etihad, the challenging encounter against Everton, who haven’t beaten City since 2017, showcased the resilient defense posed by the struggling opposition. Despite dominating possession, City found it challenging to break down Everton’s solid defensive setup, leading to a more laborious victory than anticipated.
