9 months ago
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Erling Haaland’s first goals of 2024 couldn’t have come at a better time for Manchester City in their 2-0 win over Everton.
It looked set to be a frustrating day for the champions who failed to manage a shot on target until the 71st minute.
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However, when they did finally get a clear sight on goal, it was Haaland who made it count, rifling home from a corner for his first goal since November 28.
Then, just as Everton were recovering and dominating play, he bundled over Jarrad Branthwaite on a counter-attack, and slotted past Jordan Pickford to end the contest.
The Norwegian missed ten matches through injury over the new year period, but timed his return to perfection with City struggling at home to the Toffees.
Everton manager Sean Dyche may have had something to do with that, due to a canny ploy pre-match.
With captain James Tarkowski winning the coin flip, City were forced to swap ends before kick-off and shoot towards the home end during the first half.
That confused the home side and seemingly took the momentum out of their second half plans of shooting towards the home support.
According to Thom Harris of The Athletic, Everton are only the second team in 101 Premier League games at the Etihad to force City to swap ends and disrupt their rhythm.
It was the first time they've been forced to swap ends since Aston Villa made them do it in May 2022.
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But in the end, Haaland was inevitable, leapfrogging Liverpool back to the top of the league with the same number of games played.
So key was his first to break the deadlock, that Phil Foden collapsed on the floor in celebration at the Norwegian's latest heroics.
