Erling Haaland Double Fires Manchester City Top of the Premier League.

Erling Haaland just keeps scoring. The Norwegian striker struck twice in the second half as Manchester City beat Everton 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium, sending Pep Guardiola’s side to the top of the Premier League table.

After netting a hat-trick for Norway during the international break, Haaland continued his remarkable form — now with 23 goals in just 13 games for club and country this season. For much of the first half, he was quiet, almost brooding, until his moment came.

It started with a bullet header from Nico O’Reilly’s pinpoint cross, and within five minutes he was at it again — sweeping home Savinho’s cutback, via a slight deflection off James Tarkowski, to seal the win.

Until Haaland’s double, it was Everton who had the better chances. David Moyes’ men played with confidence following their dramatic win over Crystal Palace before the break, with Iliman Ndiaye a constant menace. The Senegalese forward intercepted a poor Nathan Aké pass early on and forced a sharp save from Gianluigi Donnarumma after a dazzling solo run.

City’s first-half rhythm was patchy — Savinho scuffed a close-range effort straight at Jordan Pickford and saw another parried away — but as ever, the champions’ quality eventually told.

City’s Relentless March

For Guardiola, this was a reminder of what separates his team from the rest: when the game gets tight, Haaland simply takes it away. He has failed to score in just one of his 13 matches this season, and his hunger seems sharper than ever after last season’s trophyless campaign.

Haaland could easily have completed another hat-trick but was twice denied by Pickford late on. Behind him, City’s full-backs Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes pushed high and wide, stretching Everton’s shape and helping City dominate after the break.

With the win, City are eight games unbeaten in all competitions and top of the league on goal difference — at least until Arsenal’s clash with Fulham. Guardiola will also be encouraged by the return of key players from injury, with Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki, and Mateo Kovacic all featuring from the bench.

Everton’s Frustration Grows

For Moyes, the curse continues. His Everton side battled gamely but could not convert their early pressure into goals, and the defeat means he has now gone 37 matches without beating a team that finished in the top three the previous season.

Everton’s poor run against City also stretches on — they haven’t beaten Guardiola’s men in 17 league games, a drought dating back to that 4-0 victory in 2017.

Ndiaye was again the bright spark, but he lacked support. Beto squandered two good chances, one flagged offside, another dragged wide. Against a side as ruthless as City, those misses were fatal.