Everton fell to a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon.
David Moyes’ side put in a spirited display and looked set to earn a point until City took control in the final 10 minutes.
Despite the loss, Everton remain 13th in the Premier League table—above both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, which is quite remarkable.
Two late goals from Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic sealed all three points for the reigning champions.
After the match, Pep Guardiola praised Everton’s performance, particularly highlighting their threat from set-pieces.
Tarkowski’s injury the turning point, says Chris Sutton
Pundit Chris Sutton felt Everton were unfortunate not to claim a draw, pointing to James Tarkowski’s injury as the game’s decisive moment.
Tarkowski, who has been a rock at the back alongside Jarrad Branthwaite this season, was forced off shortly after halftime. Sutton noted that Michael Keane—who replaced him—struggled to cope.
“Everton deserved something from the game, Rob (Savage),” Sutton said. “Tarkowski going off was huge. Michael Keane came in and really struggled. They missed Tarkowski massively after that. It’s a big win for City.”
Don Hutchinson echoed Sutton’s view, criticizing Keane’s performance, saying he looked “all over the place” after coming on in the 52nd minute.
Moyes echoes concern over Tarkowski blow
Speaking post-match, David Moyes agreed that Tarkowski’s injury was a key turning point.
“For 60 minutes, we did a lot right,” said Moyes. “We played well in the first half, but losing James Tarkowski was a huge setback. It had a big impact on the team. It says a lot that we’re disappointed to lose to Manchester City. But we weren’t good enough in the last 15-20 minutes, and that’s what cost us.”
The result underscores Everton’s need to strengthen at centre-back in the upcoming transfer window. The Toffees are reportedly monitoring Burnley’s Maxime Esteve, who could cost over £30 million following an impressive campaign in the Championship.
