Three second-half goals secured a vital comeback win for Manchester City away at Everton to reiterate their Premier League title credentials.
A run of one win in six league games was temporarily shelved for Pep Guardiola's men to become club world champions before Christmas, meaning they arrived at Goodison Park with an eight-point deficit to leaders Liverpool - albeit with two games in hand.
Furthermore, the lack of Erling Haaland in attack was evident as an absence of physical presence meant their vast swathes of possession failed to turn into many serious chances in the first half. Matheus Nunes and Julian Alvarez were denied by a sharp Jordan Pickford double-save from their best opening.
Everton grew into the game but leapt ahead against the run of play when Rodri weakly gave the ball away in his own box, allowing Dwight McNeil to cross for ex-City man Jack Harrison to slot home on 28 minutes.
City's tough half got worse when John Stones went off injured, but they flew out of the traps after the break.
A Phil Foden STUNNER!
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 27, 2023
The midfielder brings Man City level with a crashing strike from distance! 💥#PLonPrime #EVEMCI pic.twitter.com/8FcLj7fRkE
Phil Foden smacked a leveller on 53 minutes when catching Pickford out with a fierce effort from range - and he almost put the visitors ahead from five yards out moments later, but for a soft connection with the ball in.
City led soon enough anyway after Foden's shot into a crowded box deflected to Nathan Ake, whose shot cannoned off Amadou Onana's flailing arm to win a penalty which Alvarez stroked home.
Everton switched to a 3-4-3 and certainly didn't lay down to accept their beating, backed by an increasingly raucous Goodison crowd. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, off the bench, shot wide from their only real opening of the half however.
The game was then sealed just before the 90 minutes was up, after Pickford drifted off his line and gave the ball away. Bernardo Silva needed no second invitation to pick his spot and float in a delightful third, before Foden almost made it 4-1 with a wicked effort from range that hit the post in stoppage time.
The win leaves Everton only a point off the dropzone while City are now firmly back in the title picture.
