Everton got away with Tarkowski’s error but when they didn’t deal with a corner from the right midway through the second half, and a rocket from Haaland’s right boot made it 1-0. It was Haaland’s first goal since scoring against RB Leipzig on Nov. 28 and ended his longest goalless run in the Premier League after failing to find the net in his last four games in the competition.
He didn’t have to wait long for another. Kevin De Bruyne, on as a substitute, rolled a pass forward, allowing Haaland to bulldoze Jarrad Branthwaite to the ground and roll his finish into the far corner.
Two typical Haaland goals and, in the end, a very typical City win. It’s now 10 in a row in all competitions and for all the talk of a three-way title race with Liverpool and Arsenal, it still feels like Guardiola’s team are very much in control.
“I know the team, I see them every day, my opinion is it’s fresher and better and not affected by the fact that we lose games,” said the City manager. “They continue to be there. With Erling and Kevin we are stronger, it’s obvious, when a team loses consistency we have to be worried with the way they train, behave and run. When that happens the team is alive and I was never concerned. Since day one I didn’t have [a bad] feeling.
“The team this season in the difficulties make a step forward, coming back from losing positions. I love to win this type of game. The environment of the team, the feeling of the team from day one this season I said ‘OK, I like it.'”
City scored 39 times in 14 games between Haaland’s goals against Leipzig and Everton, proving that, if required, they can do it without their No.9. But with the 23-year-old back among the goals, they look as formidable as ever as they head into the part of the season when they’re traditionally at their best.
Everton discovered that the moment City and Haaland found their rhythm the game disappeared very quickly. The concern for Liverpool, Arsenal and other challengers is that the same may well be true of the title.
