--- title: "Everton 4-0 Man City – Indepth Match Review" canonical: "https://readeverton.com/everton-4-0-man-city-indepth-match-review/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "Michael Greenall" section: "Feature Writers" published: "2017-01-17T18:07:37Z" modified: "2017-01-17T18:07:37Z" --- # Everton 4-0 Man City – Indepth Match Review Sunday 15th January 2017 – Everton Football Club completely and utterly outclass and outperform a side managed by Pep Guardiola, who’s won 29 trophies both as a player and a manager since Everton last won a trophy. But that bleak Sunday afternoon saw Ronald Koeman’s first part of the Everton jigsaw completed. Freshly polished Morgan Schneiderlin must have missed the memo as he strutted into Goodison in his brand new Everton tracksuit rather than his own tailored Royal Blue suit. He still looked suave don’t worry. Confidence has been beaming around Everton since the start of the new year. Two new signings, a promising AGM and sponsorship deals flying in from everywhere and continued belief that in a couple of years Everton will open there shiny new stadium, accompanied with personal docks for Usmanov and his best mate Putin. But despite mouthwatering prospects off the pitch, focus again turned to an Everton side that Ronald Koeman hates as much as we do. Three points against City and maybe we’re in the title race? No? Okay. ![Michael Regan/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readeverton.com/readeverton/2017/01/631739122.jpg) The signing of Morgan Schneiderlin in midweek gave most hope that Gareth Barry wouldn’t wear an Everton shirt again. Despite, his hardworking, tough tackling side, you can’t help but feel that his legs have finally given up on him as he now chases shadows while seemingly dragging a caravan behind him. However, Barry kept his place in a game where Koeman once again set up with 3 at the back in a formation that seems to get the best out of Ross Barkley in a role that see’s his attacking instincts thrive with the freedom of driving know he can rely on the solidity of the back 3 behind him. The formation also gets the best out of Kevin Mirallas. Rather than being stuck out on the wing, he’s now given the freedom to roam in and around Romelu Lukaku. Youngsters Mason Holgate and Tom Davies have also clenched onto starting positions with both flourishing as top quality unnoticed talents, both with bright futures. An unsurprising dominant first half by Manchester City saw minimal threatening chances, a penalty shout, a Kevin Mirallas offside goal and a commanding performance from Joel Robles who will hope to maintain the goalkeeping spot following several continuous assertive performances. However, despite almost 70% possession for City, it was Everton who took the lead just after the half-hour mark. Koeman wants high pressing, quick, direct football and that all came together as the Toffees went ahead. The high press from Coleman allowed Davies to intercept a sloppy ball from Gael Clichy as he laid it perfectly to Mirallas splitting the City midfield and defence, Mirallas first time to Lukaku as he calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner past Claudio Bravo. 1-0 to the Blues. ![Alex Livesey/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readeverton.com/readeverton/2017/01/631736448.jpg) Koeman’s philosophy came into play once again for the second goal. Press right from the off, win the ball back and play it forward and repeat. And again it worked. This time it was Barry who won it back, fed it to Lukaku who failed to slip in Mirallas, but Barkley picked up the pieces as he successfully cushioned it to the Belgian and he slotted past the Chilean keeper. The ‘Ketwig Kaiser’ himself Sir Tom Davies made it 3-0 as he expressed his raw talent even further. The midfield dynamo ran rings around Champions league, Premier league and World Cup winners as his blonde locks and curtailed socks pranced around Goodison Park with the swagger of someone who just ran the length of the pitch, sent Yaya Toure back to Africa and chipped Claudio Bravo to the utter amazement of every Evertonian in the ground. Himself included. The celebration was just as good. He ran alongside the Lower Gwladys in disbelief as he made World Class players look like amateurs. The scouser was mobbed by his teammates as he just produced a moment of magic that will stick with him and many others for the rest of their lives. Davies and 40,000 other Evertonians were on seventh heaven with the fact that they were absolutely tearing a team full of world class prima-donnas apart. ![Michael Regan/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readeverton.com/readeverton/2017/01/631739858.jpg) The best thing about it? Everton weren’t ready to hear the final whistle go just yet. New signings Morgan Schneiderlin and Ademola Lookman became the latest Everton debutants under Koeman and it was the latter who left the biggest mark on the Everton faithful. Four minutes into his debut and he pounced onto another John Stones mistake (yes, yes we did get fifty million British pounds for him). The mistake gave Lookman his first chance in a Royal Blue shirt, a chance to complete City’s misery and he slotted easily and comfortably right through the legs of Bravo as his Everton career got off to the perfect start. The ecstatic celebrations continued as Lookman slid straight towards the Gwladys to be then swarmed by every player in Blue as well as Joel sprinting from the other side of the pitch to join in as goosebumps spread across Goodison. ![Alex Livesey/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readeverton.com/readeverton/2017/01/631740062.jpg) The defining roar from the crowd drowned out the full-time whistle in Everton’s most complete performance under Ronald Koeman. Everyone left the Goodison turnstiles in full confidence that Everton might have a chance of achieving something with the Dutchman at the helm. Obvious progress and improvement off the field, clarity that money is there to improve the squad and the clubs best ever crop of youngsters prove that Everton have a very very big future ahead. We finally have the potential to become one of England’s top football clubs again. Everton are most certainly on the up.