The Blues ran out 3-1 winners, thanks to a double from Gabriel Jesus and a header from Raheem Sterling, and the press were left purring about City’s collective and individual quality.
Let’s start with the Telegraph’s chief football writer Sam Wallace, who was impressed with City’s ability to control a talented Everton side.
“This is an elite team, defeated at Chelsea last week but virtually impossible to beat at home where they have won their last ten games and even against a well-organised, dangerous Everton team controlled all but the last ten minutes,” he writes. “There were two goals from Gabriel Jesus, his first in the league since August 19, and both he and substitute Raheem Sterling scored headers against this giant Everton defence. They can beat you anyway they choose, and back at the top of the Premier League for now, thoughts are already turning to January 3.
“That is when they face the league’s only unbeaten team, Liverpool, and their one true rival for the title. There are four games before then, starting with Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Leicester City although for City it is rare to find an opponent that can live with them for an entire game. This was by no means a bad Everton performance, give or take some errors in defence, and yet they did not have a shot on goal until Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored on 66 minutes.”
READ: Jesus | Goals are a confidence boost
READ: City 3-1 Everton | Match Report
Tyrone Marshall, writing in the Manchester Evening News, says he was hugely impressed with City’s squad strength, citing the quality on the bench as reason to be confident in the coming weeks.
“Rarely can City have fielded such an impressive array of substitutes. There were Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero, both back from injury and ready to make up for lost time,” he writes.
“There was a rest for over an hour for Raheem Sterling and an afternoon off for John Stones. That is some strength in depth for Guardiola.
“It’s the return of De Bruyne and Aguero that will mean the most to the Catalan. The Belgian magician has barely featured this season, but his return has come with all the timing of one of his trademark through balls, with City embarking on their busiest stretch of the season.
“On Friday Guardiola compared the title race with Liverpool to his battles in La Liga with Real Madrid. Every dropped point is going to feel crucial between now and May.
“But City could have the secret weapon in a fresh De Bruyne, who might just provide the X Factor.”
And Marshall’s colleague, Simon Bajkowski, heaped praise on Fernandinho, a player he feels is indispensable to City.
“He doesn’t win every tackle, but somehow manages to emerge with the ball every time and the play to assist Raheem Sterling‘s goal was a bonus,” Bajkowski writes. “There are of course calls to being in a successor to Fernandinho as soon as possible, but it’s difficult to think of players out there that can fill his boots.”
That’s all for this morning’s roundup of the back pages - but stay with us throughout the day as we continue to bring you reaction from another fine win!
