Everton seems unable to stop Gabriel Jesus, who has now found the net 7 times in his last 5 appearances against them. Following City's 2-1 win on New Year's Day 2020, Pep Guardiola lauded the squad's determination. To achieve this, Guardiola made the bold call to start Jesus instead of the legendary Sergio Aguero.
Gabriel Jesus has now scored 7 times in his last 5 national games including Everton, who must be tired of watching him hitting goals. Pep Guardiola the manager saluted Manchester City’s fighting spirit as Jesus added to his notable records against Everton 2-1 win on 1st Jan 2020. Jesus was given the start as City’s manager Guardiola rested Sergio Aguero.
The decision to favor the Brazilian over the club's all-time top scorer likely stemmed from Jesus's uncanny ability to read and exploit Everton's weaknesses. He rewarded the manager's faith by once again slicing through the opposition's defense.
With 7 goals in his last 5 matches against the Merseyside side, Jesus has become a constant threat they simply cannot contain. Guardiola was pleased with the outcome of a gritty contest and mentioned that they are now closing in on Leicester, trailing by only three points.
City currently sits 3rd in the Premier League after two wins on the bounce, putting them 11 points behind a dominant Liverpool side that still has matches to play. Guardiola noted that despite their progress toward the top spot, this victory was vital, especially with the FA Cup and EFL Cup still on the horizon.
While Richarlison managed to score for Everton, the match marked the first setback for manager Carlo Ancelotti after a strong start with wins over Newcastle and Burnley. History repeated itself against City, as the Manchester side continued their dominance—a trend reflected in their incredible decade, where they bagged ten trophies, including four league titles.
Pep Guardiola admitted that Liverpool's phenomenal form over the past year and a half makes them a formidable opponent. He conceded that catching up to them this season looks unlikely. Consequently, he is focusing on the immediate challenges ahead, acknowledging that City needs to improve their play and perhaps have a bit of luck on their side.
Though luck is rarely needed when you have the likes of Aguero, Sterling, and Walker in the lineup. However, the fans were given a real scare when Claudio Bravo had to produce a stunning one-handed save to deny Seamus Coleman a goal.