Manchester City closed the gap on their Premier League title rivals with a hard-fought 3-1 victory at Everton on Wednesday night.
The Cityzens were forced to come from behind at Goodison Park after Jack Harrison had given the Toffees the lead, and Everton hadn't lost under Sean Dyche this season after scoring first.
However, the newly-crowned world champions produced a vintage second-half display on Merseyside to secure all three points as Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez and Bernardo Silva all got on the scoresheet.
How the game unfolded
There were no early signs of Club World Cup fatigue from the visitors as the remarkable perfection of their possession subdued a typically raucous Goodison Park. City were dominant in the opening 20 minutes and would've gone ahead if it wasn't for a fine double save from Jordan Pickford.
The Premier League's most proficient set-piece performers then started to find a route into the game via dead ball situations which sparked Goodison into life. Any wayward Cityzen pass was met with a distinct increase in volume, and Everton were emboldened by the visitors' growing sloppiness.
Eventually, a pair of errors from Rodri and Silva allowed Dwight McNeil to hit the byline and his drilled cross was met by Harrison first time to give the hosts the lead.
A once imperious City were shackled, and Everton then looked more likely to grab a second before half-time until John Stones' injury halted any momentum.
It had the makings of a frustrating night for Pep Guardiola's side in the wet and wind of Goodison, but a thunderous Foden strike at the start of the second half brought the Cityzens level. The world champions turned it up a notch after the restart, and their pressure was relentless.
James Tarkowski nearly converted into his own net on two occasions before the visitors were rewarded a spot-kick for handball just after the hour, and Alvarez squeezed his effort home.
However, as was the case in the first half, City's seemingly unrelenting control did fade, and Everton once again found ways of sparking optimism within the Goodison faithful. Substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin came close to restoring parity soon after his entrance, but a Jordan Pickford error in possession then confirmed all three points for the visitors as Silva coolly converted into an empty net late on.
Everton player ratings (4-4-1-1)
GK: Jordan Pickford - 5/10 - The Everton goalkeeper produced a couple of excellent saves in the first half, but he didn't cover himself in glory for any of City's goals. Unlucky with the penalty.
RB: Nathan Patterson - 7/10 - Wasn't the easiest night for Patterson against an excellent Grealish, but he stuck to his task well after picking up a booking in the opening period.
CB: James Tarkowski - 7/10 - The agricultural centre-back was keen to make his presence felt throughout. Despite almost scoring a pair of own goals at the start of the second half, Tarkowski defended the Everton box stoutly.
CB: Jarrad Branthwaite - 8/10 - Another night when the young defender impressed. Hard to criticise him for the heavy touch which led to City's third.
LB: Vitalii Mykolenko - 6/10 - A quiet outing for Mykolenko, who wasn't tested as much as he might've thought.
RM: Jack Harrison - 7/10 - The former City employee had barely had a touch before he gave his side the lead with a smart run and finish. Posed the biggest threat in the final third for the hosts thereafter.
CM: Amadou Onana - 6/10 - Perhaps harshly penalised for handball which gave City the lead, and Onana was often out-duelled by Rodri when competing for the second ball in midfield.
CM: James Garner - 6/10 - Plenty of hustle and bustle, but Garner couldn't quite produce the requisite moments in possession.
LM: Dwight McNeil - 7/10 - McNeil teed up Harrison's opener and his corner deliveries were always a threat.
AM: Andre Gomes - 5/10 - Would've wanted plenty of touches on his first Premier League start of the season, but City were never going to give him the luxury. Gomes' set-pieces were a threat, but there was little influence from open play.
ST: Beto - 6/10 - This was no easy role for Beto on a rare Premier League start. He scrapped and fought, making life difficult for Akanji in the first half. He could've been more positive when he did receive possession in space.
Substitutes
SUB: Michael Keane (65' for Gomes) - 6/10
SUB: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (65' for Beto) - 5/10
SUB: Arnaut Danjuma (80' for Harrison) - 5/10
Subs not used: Joao Virginia (GK), Ben Godfrey, Seamus Coleman, Youssef Chermiti, Mackenzie Hunt, Lewis Dobbin.
Manager
Sean Dyche - 7/10 - Dyche has found his favoured XI, no doubt, and his side made life tough for City on Wednesday. He's doing a fine job.
Man City player ratings (3-2-4-1)
GK: Ederson - 7/10 - Pretty much perfect in possession and made an excellent save to deny Harrison from making it 2-0.
CB: Kyle Walker - 7/10 - Walker's pinpoint switches were a feature of the first half, and the veteran was generally efficient with the ball. Rarely troubled defensively.
CB: Manuel Akanji - 6/10 - Left isolated against Beto in the first half, and didn't particularly enjoy the duel. Moved into Stones' role for the second half and his performance did improve, especially with the ball.
CB: Nathan Ake - 8/10 - A performance that will go under the radar, but Ake was superb. Contributed to the penalty sequence, but his defending exuded serenity throughout.
CM: John Stones - 6/10 - Stones was victim of the linesman's late flag as he picked up a foot injury after being forced to deny an offside Beto in the City box.
CM: Rodri - 8/10 - The Spaniard's second-half display proved why he's such an integral cog for Pep Guardiola's supreme outfit.
RM: Bernardo Silva - 7/10 - This was far from Bernardo's finest display, but his lovely finish into an empty net sealed all three points for the Cityzens.
AM: Phil Foden - 9/10 - Majestic in the opening exchanges and was one of the few City playmakers Everton struggled to contain. His strike to bring the visitors level was pinpoint, and he popped up every few minutes with a divine sequence of close control.
AM: Matheus Nunes - 5/10 - The midfielder produced a couple of neat and tidy sequences in the Everton box amid a pretty unconvincing performance. Should've scored early on.
LM: Jack Grealish - 8/10 - Superb in the first half as he operated as City's chief creator. Grealish was particularly brilliant in the Everton box. His defensive effort was impressive as City aimed to hold on to their lead.
ST: Julian Alvarez - 7/10 - There wasn't a blade of grass Alvarez didn't touch. While he drifted in and out of the contest, the Argentine was relentless with and without the ball.
Substitutes
SUB: Josko Gvardiol (43' for Stones) - 7/10
SUB: Mateo Kovacic (65' for Nunes) - 5/10
Subs not used: Stefan Ortega (GK), Kalvin Phillips, Sergio Gomez, Oscar Bobb, Mahmadou Susoho, Rico Lewis, Micah Hamilton.
Manager
Pep Guardiola - 8/10 - The injury to Stones meant he was forced to react, but Guardiola's decision to bring Akanji into midfield ensured City remained stable. Has to take some credit for his side's improved performance in the second period.
