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Man City 3-1 Everton
Hello, and welcome to our liveblog of the weekend’s first Premier League game.
The team news is in and for Everton, James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman both start, while Darron Gibson makes the bench for the first time in the league this season.
MAN CITY: Hart, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Kompany, Lescott, Milner, Fernandinho, Toure, Silva, Aguero, Negredo Subs: Richards, Nasri, Dzeko, Jesus Navas, Clichy, Pantilimon, Nastasic.
EVERTON: Howard, Baines, Distin, Jagielka, Coleman, McCarthy, Osman, Naismith, Barkley, Mirallas, Lukaku Subs: Robles, Gibson, Heitinga, Jelavic, Kone, Deulofeu, Stones.
While we wait for today’s game to begin, a quick poll for you…
Will Everton be in the top 4 come the end of the season?
Poll Results:
Having won six of the last eight encounters between the sides, Everton are very much Man City’s bogey team.
Will this trend continue today?
After sustained pressure from City around the Everton area, Yaya Toure’s shot from the edge of the box has to be palmed away by Howard.
Shortly thereafter, Everton break threateningly and with great speed, but Mirallas’s cross is well cut out by the City defender.
Half the stadium cheer thinking a goal has been scored, but Kolarov’s curling free kick only finds the side netting.
It’s been a lively opening.
Kolarov meets David Silva’s corner but heads over.
City don’t appear to be suffering much of a Champions League hangover — they’ve looked the more likely side to break the deadlock so far.
As I type, Everton struggle to cope with City’s slick passing around their box, but just about manage to scramble the ball clear.
It’s been a very entertaining start to this game.
Phew! First off, Romelu Lukaku gives Everton the lead, finishing well after Joleon Lescott tried and failed to play him offside after a long ball is hit hopefully towards the box (16 mins).
Just moments later, Yaya Toure plays a clever through ball that finds Alvaro Negredo, who makes no mistake with his finish (17 mins).
So the old cliché about teams being at their most vulnerable when they’ve just scored applies in this case.
The frantic pace has not let up since the goals. James Milner’s deflected cross has just hit the post and gone out for a corner.
Beautifully worked training ground-style free-kick from City that almost pays dividends.
Silva comes short for it and plays a first-time ball through to Aguero.
The Argentine international hits the ball narrowly wide with only Howard to beat. He should have done better there.
Concern for City as Vincent Kompany is forced off with an injury.
Nastasic, who has been a regular for City this season, comes on in his stead.
(Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero fights for the ball against Everton’s James McCarthy - Jon Super/AP/Press Association Images)
Clear-cut chances have been less frequent in recent minutes, though the game is still being played at an incredibly intense pace.
Though as I type, Silva plays a good sliding through ball to send Aguero through on goal, but he gets his legs in a tangle, allowing Everton to clear.
It’s not the first good chance for the Argentine player, who has looked a little off the boil today.
Commentator’s curse! Sergio Aguero produces a clinical finish, after outpacing Distin following Silva’s through ball (44 minutes).
It’s probably just about deserved on the balance of play.
Aguero finds himself through on goal yet again, but a perfect-timed recovery tackle from Jagielka prevents him from going any further.
You really can’t take your eyes off this game.
So City lead at half-time.
They have been on top in terms of possession and territory and consequently, probably deserve their lead.
Everton, however, have been more adventurous than most sides who visit the City of Manchester stadium and continually look a threat on the break.
This game is far from over yet.
A frantic debate is ensuing in TheScore.ie office over whether Joe Hart was to blame for the City goal.
Watch it below and judge for yourself.
YouTube credit: FotbalMagical
Another shaky moment for Joe Hart.
The City goalkeeper unwisely tries to dribble the ball past Lukaku and just about manages to get away with it.
City then enjoy a good spell of pressure up the other end.
City are really playing some good stuff now and have Everton on the racks.
They’re certainly passing the ball with far greater confidence than they displayed against Bayern during the week.
James McCarthy plays a wonderful through ball to Mirallas, who frustratingly for Everton, fails to control the ball and loses it.
That serves as a stark reminder of what Everton are capable of up the other end.
Naismith has just pushed Kolarov into Nastasic, which has caused a nasty collision between the pair.
Very unsporting behaviour from the Everton man.
Ireland’s Darron Gibson looks set to come on for Everton.
They could do with a reinforcement at this stage, as it hasn’t been the most encouraging of second halfs from their perspective.
Darron Gibson has replaced Leon Osman.
Meanwhile, Kevin Mirallas comes off for Gerard Deulofeu.
(Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart celebrates after his side score their second goal – Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sport)
Very harsh decision. Zabaleta goes down very easily after Coleman makes the slightest of tugs on his shirt.
It’s an own goal from the hugely unlucky Tim Howard (70 mins).
He pushes Aguero’s penalty onto the post, but it rebounds off his body and goes in.
Certain Fantasy Football players are nervously asking whether the Argentine player gets an assist for that.
Official confirmation, in case there was ever any doubt.
Nasri comes on for Aguero.
Meanwhile, Everton make their final sub, with Kone taking the place of McCarthy.
Less than 10 minutes remain…
City are currently camped in the Everton half.
A dramatic comeback does not seem to be on the cards.
No surprise that both teams are playing in a conspicuously less urgent fashion now, given how fast the tempo has been for much of the match.
Everton, now, are almost certainly set to lose their unbeaten record.
Former referee Mark Halsey, commenting on BT Sport, says today’s official Jon Moss has “lost the plot”.
The referee has given out one or two needless bookings this afternoon, while the penalty decision was questionable at best.
Meanwhile, Alvaro Negredo has been named Man of the Match.
So that’s that. A deserved victory for Man City, who grew more dominant as the game developed.
Everton have cause to feel aggrieved about the penalty for City’s third goal, but can hardly begrudge them the three points.
Good luck to Leinster today from a Munster man
@David Toke: Go luck to Leinster today from a man.
@Porter Paddy: good luck to leinster ill be getting my dinner soon
@David Toke: leinster vs racing 92 LINK===> http://bit.ly/2jSQwam
@David Toke: good luck to Donnacha today from a Tipperary man
@David Toke: Fack off.
@Marko Polo: Marko fack u :-)
@Martin Quinn: go luck where Martin lol
C’mon Leinster! Nerves kicking in now. Great news for us (not Carter) that he’s been ruled out. Could have made a big difference off the bench.
Can’t wait to see the two Ryans lock horns.
Dreadful to watch so far
Have a feeling donnacha will sort out the ladyboys today..
@munsterman: how anyone who supports a team with Zebo and Murray can call anyone else ladyboys is beyond me.
@munsterman: na he sorted the ladyboys out a few weeks ago
@munsterman: Ha ha ha, suck it up, lad…
jp doyle has been so annoying. let the game flow. always in barnes ear. let him referee
Am I the only one thinking Barnes and his team having a good game?
@Eddie Hekenui: yes!
@Eddie Hekenui: I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt that you are attempting humour
Shocking reffing
@Eddie Hekenui: yes you are, he might as well be wearing a racing 92 jersey,
@Eddie Hekenui: I thought they have been spot on. Fair too.
Not up for Racing at all and screaming for Leinster all the way. I was expecting a Barnes shitshow but they’ve been decent for me. Very consistent and doing lots of talking which helps the players. Nakawara could’ve got a yellow but I hate seeing big games decided by tame yellow cards and Leinster weren’t going to score. Can’t think of any other calls they’ve gotten wrong
@Eddie Hekenui: Yeah he definitely let lots go at ruck time but he was consistent in his interpretations. As per the chatting I think we just heard it more than you normally wood because it was being broadcast. For me it’s a good thing if they’re involved. The ref can only see so much and there were a few times they weighed in on what was happening in the scrums when Barnes couldn’t see.
@Eddie Hekenui: bad.
@Eddie Hekenui: bad. if there are another two people who think they are the main referee how will the game flow
@Eddie Hekenui: The best referee’s make use of their team combined with their own judgement especially when they have a better angle. Look at the disallowed try for Gloucester last night. The tj was much better placed to make a call but the referee immediately blew it up. I’d have issue if the tj’s were butting in with bad calls but they weren’t.
ugh… Barnes. wrong choice for a final.
My nerves are at me.
Poor match so far
Leinster by 15-20 too good for racing imo
@Conor: Leinster starting very slowly making alot of mistakes I hope your right but racing don’t look like they have been rattled not once yet.
Leinster will be happy to have got through the first 20 without Racing doing any serious damage. Key for Racing was to get a hot start with some points on the board. They’re not as effective as the game goes on while the Leinster machine will keep chugging away till the final whistle
Come on Leinster Every one of the Leinster players will be legends if they bring that trophy back here
Machenaud, Lambie, Carter and possibly Vakatawa. How much luck do Leinster need
Barnes is effing useless
Don’t care if it wasn’t champagne rugby, the best kind of final, intense pressure, 2 teams not giving an inch, congratulations to Leinster and sincerest commiserations to Racing for a tremendous display
Woeful game, but congrats Leinster!
Hasn’t even started and it already feels like squeaky bum time
I think Leinster could be ahead if they had gone with Lowe on the wing, Isa is having a mare
@Ben Sheridan: Sounds so easy….
@Ben Sheridan: Then he steps up and equalises
@Ben Sheridan: it’s seriously tense, that’s why I think Lowes attitude would thrive in this
Thank you Teddy Thomas. You owed us Irish one after the Six Nations and Munster matches
referring has been atrocious but Leinster really have not done themselves any favours.
Jesus Christ that was tense felt like a repeat of Ireland France.
CMon Leinster!!!
Any links to watch the match?
@Brian Moore: try Cricfree that usually works.
@Brian Moore: Legally on the France2 website. No bulles*t hype either https://www.france.tv/france-2/direct.html
@Brian Moore: https://youtu.be/TDb9KlJkhUU
That’s a YouTube link, great quality. This channel always streams the big rugby and football games so I’d recommend subscribing too.
It’s going to be very hard to break Racing down. It’s 50/50 at this stage. One mistake and Thomas is away. Need some magic from Sexton. They seem to match us everywhere else.
It’s a terrible disgrace the game wasn’t on any irish TV channel.
@Marian Lee Lynch: why would it be? Sky and BT have the rights to it and it was never guaranteed that an Irish team would be in the final.
@Marian Lee Lynch: hardly a disgrace when tv rights are done years ago for big bucks. if no irish team were in it would it be a disgrace?
Poor game but well done Leinster.
Need a bib…salivating at the prospect of this
No links..
Following the Journal for every move….
Priceless for once.
Time to chill and enjoy the beers.
Loving Lowes reaction. Hope he is selected next week
What does it matter..workmanlike victory..no fireworks…best team in Europe..no question..
vchjugju
@FOX(sports)Free Live: is that the new Fijian playing for Racing
Worst game i ever watched. Will take me a while to realise we wpn it. But holy crap 4 stars on the shirt next season. …
Who’s complaining now about Barnes? Or Isa?
RUGBY LINK===> http://bit.ly/2jSQwam
RUGBY LINK===> https://t.co/fxldK6VwA2
RUGBY LINK===> https://t.co/fxldK6VwA2