Everton

Mike Richards
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Travelling to Manchester City and leaving with a defeat, will be commonplace to many sides. Sadly, we fell the same way on Saturday.

So often in defeat you rightly look at what went wrong, but sometimes it is just as important to shine some light on the positives, and in our case, Iliman Ndiaye.

I have highlighted him once already this season. After the arrival of Jack Grealish, the external attention he once demanded appeared to have dwindled slightly. Following Saturday's showing, he has become impossible to ignore once again.

To say he was a headache for Manchester City's left-hand side would be an understatement.

His entire repertoire was evident.

Fleet-footed, mesmerising body movement and clever bursts of pace, it was a performance that warranted being on the winning side.

His nonchalant beating of three City players on the edge of his own box, highlighted his brilliance.

On another day, he could have walked away with a goal and an assist and would have done if not for some Gianluigi Donnarumma acrobatics and a miss by Beto.

The defensive side of his game was just as impressive. He regularly dispossessed Jeremy Doku, showing incredible strength to hold him off on multiple occasions.

It is the kind of performance Evertonians have seen countless times before. The real concern now is that many clubs will be on red alert to capture his signature in the summer.

Everton are in a strong position in that sense - with Ndiaye contracted until June 2029 – but you would like to think the club would offer improved terms to ensure he stays at the club.

I believe that he could play for any club in Europe and not look out of place. We need to ensure our ambitions match his.

Find more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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I often think of players who would be even more impressive playing with better sides, teams who have more of the ball and spend more time in the attacking third.

Watching Everton's Iliman Ndiaye so far this season, I suspect he could do a phenomenal job if he was playing for Manchester City, Chelsea or Arsenal, he is that good.

‌I hope he stays at the Toffees but they might have to fight off bids from the bigger boys soon. Notice I don't mention Liverpool in the shortlist.

‌This is not because he isn't capable but I would rightly have an Evertonian lynch mob after me if I suggested such a thing!

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Everton's Ukraine full-back Vitalii Mykolenko, 26, is attracting interest from clubs in Spain and Italy. (Footmercato - in French, external), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Manchester City and Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

City fans

Chris: Erling Haaland is a machine. Other players need to step up and contribute to the goal stats. An injury to Haaland could derail our season.

Harry: Still looking a little shaky at the back. No disrespect to Beto but if anyone else is on the end of those two chances, then we're 2-0 down. Proud of the team. Yes, Haaland is doing the heavy lifting but I see only positives in the fact that we are finally getting him the service he needs. When Rayan Cherki and Omar Marmoush are fit enough he'll have some backup. Bring on Anfield.

Neil: Nico O'Reilly was my player of the match. His contribution was electric. The first half was sluggish and predictable with both wingers - Jeremy Doku and Savinho - putting poor crosses into the box. In the second half, City woke up and produced some decent football. Tijjani Reijnders seemed absent for most of the game but Haaland brightened up the day.

Everton fans

Mike: With such a blunt set of strikers like Everton have, the result was never really in doubt. As soon as we enter the final third, we look so naive. Beto can't control a football and Thierno Barry looks miles off it. Haaland was invisible until he scored, but that's the sign of a world-class striker - something Everton can only wish for. Iliman Ndiaye was brilliant and deserved to be on the winning team.

Harry: Never thought we would get anything against City. Although we have improved this year, we are miles off the top teams and Haaland alone is the proof of that.

Gerard: Pleased to see us have a go at City when we could. Love Beto's effort and never-say-die attitude, but ultimately, if he doesn't score we need someone who can. Not sure Barry is that person. Hasn't shown us anything yet and of the two, Beto provides us with more. Ndaiye and Jordan Pickford are fantastic and we look a good team - just need a goalscorer. Now where have I heard that before?

Image source, Getty Images

Everton defender James Tarkowksi has said his "overriding emotion is disappointment" after Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Manchester City as "for a lot of the game we did quite well".

"We restricted them to very little in the first half and was an even game," he told BBC Radio Merseyside. "They [City] dominated the ball, but we had some decent chances too.

"Erling Haaland is the most clinical player in world football so he was definitely going to score that free header.

"My overriding emotion is disappointment because you don't want to come away with a defeat, but we always try to reflect and look at the positives - and for a lot of the game we did quite well.

"It is easy to come to the Etihad and be 2-0 down and give up, but we didn't and we kept going.

"We are doing better than how we have started previous seasons but the ambition is the European places. We are not settling for mediocre seasons any more.

"We are looking to do better and improve - but it has been a decent start without being amazing."

Listen to Tarkowski's full interview on BBC Sounds

Pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Manchester City 2-0 Everton

• Crystal Palace 3-3 Bournemouth

• Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Moyes has the magical Iliman Ndiaye at his disposal, but the forward cannot do it all on his own and it could have been a different story had Beto done better with his chances.

He was inches away from converting one and he should have scored when slipped through by Ndiaye, although the flag did go up for offside.

Instead, David Moyes maintained the unwanted record of never beating a side that finished in the top three of the Premier League the previous season, a statistic that now extends to 37 games.

Everton's own miserable record against City also continued, now having failed to beat their opponents in their 17 league meetings since a 4-0 thrashing during Guardiola's first season in charge.

David Moyes spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Everton's defeat against Manchester City: "I was quite pleased with lots of the performance. Not pleased with the result. We've come here and put on a good show, up until the first goal certainly. Created a couple of chances in the first half. I wanted to try and challenge the likes of City and Arsenal where we can. We've challenged them today but we've come up a bit short.

On Beto's chances: "I think the one he doesn't get to, he should get to. The one that was given offside was onside I think and ultimately we get a VAR decision if it goes in. The first chance we're studs away from getting a goal.

On the difficulty of facing Erling Haaland: They've got a number nine who knows how to find the back of the net. One occasion where just as we were changing over from attacking to defensive phase we got caught up with a pass. It was a terrific ball by Nico O'Reilly for Haaland to score but if you give that level opportunities you give them the chance to score. A bit of a scruffy goal the second one. He scuffs it through James' [Tarkowski] legs, they won't be bothered about that but not a great finish from our point of view. That puts us in danger at 2-0 but I was impressed with how well we defended after that because they had more chances.

"You mustn't forget where Everton were in the last few years. Coming here we're trying to challenge one of the best teams in football. For large periods we did a good job and we challenged them. We move on."

Did you know?

Everton have won just one of their last 36 Premier League away games against sides who finished in the top four the previous season, and are winless in 20 (D7 L13) since beating Liverpool 2-0 in February 2021.

• Listen to Moyes' post-match interview with BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Man City's performance

What did you make of Everton's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Manchester City make three changes to the side that beat Brentford before the international break.

Nico Gonzalez comes into the midfielder to replace Rodri, while Nathan Ake and Jeremy Doku also start.

Josko Gvardiol and Oscar Bobb both drop to a very strong looking bench for Pep Guardiola.

Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki and Mateo Kovacic have all returned from injury and are available as substitutes today.

Man City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Ake, O'Reilly, Gonzalez, Reijnders, Foden, Doku, Savinho, Haaland.

Everton boss David Moyes also makes three changes following their last-gasp win over Crystal Palace last time out.

Jack Grealish is ineligible to face his parent club so Carlos Alcaraz gets a start, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is back in the starting line-up following a one-game suspension in place of Tyler Dibling.

Beto starts up front, replacing Thierno Barry, who is yet to score for the Toffees since his big money summer move from Villarreal.

Everton XI: Pickford, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Garner, Gueye, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Alcaraz, Beto.

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Nottingham Forest v Chelsea (12:30)

• Brighton v Newcastle

• Burnley v Leeds United

• Crystal Palace v Bournemouth

• Man City v Everton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Sunderland v Wolves - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Fulham v Arsenal (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Fulham v Arsenal", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

What a joke it is that Jack Grealish cannot play for Everton against his parent club.

The City fans would love to welcome Grealish back like they did Kevin de Bruyne with Napoli a few weeks ago, and he would have had a point to prove against Pep Guardiola. City were happy for him to leave on loan, so why shouldn't he play against them?

Grealish has been a revelation for Everton and is a big reason they have been more expansive this season. Without him, I am just expecting them to stay deep and defend in numbers.

They will still try to get in behind City on the break and try to make the most of the home side's high line, but Grealish would have improved their chances of getting something here and the fact he is not playing has upset me.

Everton might still get some chances but the big question for everyone playing City at the moment is how do you stop Erling Haaland - and I am not sure they will have the answer.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City will aim to keep pace with leaders Arsenal against an Everton side who have not won a Premier League game at Etihad Stadium in 15 years.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Saturday's meeting.

In-form City

Manchester City have an excellent record in this fixture and on their best run of league form of the season so far.

Pep Guardiola's side are unbeaten in the past 16 Premier League meetings with the Toffees and have won three of their past four league fixtures (D1).

City's most recent win - at Brentford before the international break - was Guardiola's 250th victory as a manager in the Premier League.

He achieved the feat in just 349 matches, the fewest of any manager to reach this milestone and in 55 fewer games than former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who is second on the list.

David Moyes, in fourth, required 296 more matches.

City's tactical tweak

After winning at Gtech Community Stadium, Guardiola said he would invite all the other managers to have won 250 Premier League matches to dinner.

One topic of discussion may have been the 54-year-old's tweak in tactics this season, which mean his side have had the lowest average possession and lowest number of passes per game of any team he has managed in his top-flight career.

Should the hamstring injury sustained by Rodri early on at Brentford rule him out of facing Everton, further tailoring of City's approach may be needed - because since Rodri's debut in 2021-22, City have lost 14 of 48 league matches without the midfielder.

Grealish out for Everton

While Everton may take some confidence from any potential absence, they will be missing their own talisman in Manchester.

Jack Grealish, who moved on loan to Merseyside from the Etihad this summer, is ineligible to face his parent club, meaning Moyes must do without the Premier League's joint-top assist-maker this season as he attempts to arrest a run of eight defeats against City with West Ham, Sunderland and Manchester United.

Moyes last avoided defeat at the Etihad with Everton in December 2012, while the Toffees' last Premier League win at City came 15 years ago during Moyes' first spell in charge.

The return of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from suspension will partly offset the loss of Grealish, although Everton may need more output from their centre-forwards if they are to get a result this weekend.

Beto and Thierno Barry have scored just once in 14 Premier League appearances combined so far in this campaign – the sharpest of contrasts to home favourite Erling Haaland.

City's number nine has already scored nine goals in just seven Premier League outings and another goal against Everton would result in only the third instance of a Premier League player reaching 10 goals in a side's first eight games of a season - and Haaland himself has been responsible for the other two.

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of Man City v Everton at 15:00 BST on Saturday on BBC Sounds

Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Jordan Pickford is into his ninth season at Everton and, still only 31, may be getting better and better.

After signing a new contract on Merseyside until 2029, he declared he is hoping to "build a legacy" with the Blues – it could be argued he already has.

There are 36 goalkeepers who have played more than 5,000 Premier League minutes since Pickford's Everton debut in a 1-0 win against Stoke in August 2017.

No keeper has clocked up more time on the pitch than Pickford in that time and he has comfortably made the most saves out of all eligible number ones.

That stands to reason. After all, for much of his time at Everton, he has been scrabbling at the bottom of the table, under 11 different managers.

The one constant? Having the tenacious Englishman between the sticks, saving far more points than he cost.

Sure, when it comes to save percentage, Pickford is middle of the pack, but that is an entirely predictable consequence of facing far more shots than any other keeper in that time – see above graphic.

In the interests of balance, Pickford has also conceded a lot more goals than any other keeper in that time.

However, as my colleague Chris Bevan pointed out earlier this week, Pickford actually prevented the most goals in the Premier League last season so is continuing to prove his worth.

Things are looking up too. Having broken Gordon Banks' consecutive clean sheets for England record earlier this week – he has not conceded a goal for his country at all in 2025 – club side Everton are sitting eighth in the early standings.

Eyeing a top-six spot for the first time?

His words on signing his contract extension were notable, stating "we want to be a team that competes in Europe" and "hopefully some silverware as well".

For one of this grand old club's most loyal recent servants, that kind of legacy would be fitting.

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Jordan Pickford signing a new four-year deal is "really good news" and it is "really pleasing" that Everton have tied down defenders James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite to new deals as well.

• Moyes revealed that he told former Everton chairman Bill Kenwright to sign Pickford from Sunderland back in 2017: "When I left Sunderland, people connected to Everton asked me about my players. I told them my young goalkeeper was outstanding. Then they went and signed him that summer."

• As a "big voice, important figure and senior player", England's first-choice goalkeeper has already assumed more of a role in the Toffees' dressing room.

• In terms of team news, Jarrad Branthwaite and summer signing Merlin Rohl are "back on the grass", but Nathan Patterson picked up an injury while playing for the Under-21s this week.

• Jack Grealish will be unavailable to play against his parent club Manchester City. Moyes highlighted that it "isn't a surprise" and he already has a plan to "rejig things".

• Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will be back in contention though after serving a suspension following "two ridiculous bookings". The central midfielder will be "back in and amongst things" this weekend.

• Meanwhile, Everton's coaching staff are working with Beto "every day" to get him scoring more goals, after only finding the net once in seven Premier League appearances so far this season.

• He explained the striker's approach to training and learning: "The boy is mad to do the work. He is a brilliant lad and his dedication to try to improve himself is second to none. The one thing I do know about Beto is that he wants to score."

• When asked if he thinks Manchester City are getting their mojo back, after racking up a run of seven games unbeaten in all competitions, Moyes responded: "I hope they aren't!"

• He added: "Pep Guardiola, certainly in the last decade, has been as good as any manager across the world. At the moment though, there's more of a chance that you might get a result against Manchester City. It's still very difficult to do so, but teams have gone and done it so we've got to try to do it as well."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to live commentary of Manchester City v Everton on BBC Radio 5 Live at 15:00 BST on Saturday

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford signing a new four-year contract, that could see him complete 12 years of service at the club.

The 31-year-old says he hopes to "build a legacy" for himself, having already made 326 appearances for the Toffees in all competitions.

Here are some of your replies:

Tommo: It's a shame Pickford hasn't got any silverware with us because he has been the rock that we've clung on to at times to stay afloat. But we've got through the storms and I can see sunnier times ahead for Pickford and the club. A big thanks to ours and England's undoubted number one.

Jacob: Great news. Pickford staying at Everton shows his class. The club owe him so much - we would be in the Championship without him. Everton has a legacy of great, long-serving goalkeepers and I think Pickford will eventually go down as the greatest.

Duncan: I was around for the Neville Southall days, and Pickford is easily the best goalkeeper since. Having such a vital position tied down for a long time means that we have a rock solid foundation to build the team on. I'm delighted and it sounds like he genuinely loves the club.

Mark: In an era of talented players and their agents chasing bigger contract deals and moving clubs every two to three years, it is refreshing to see Pickford - a world-class goalkeeper - stick with one club and be rewarded for his loyalty.

Anton: Honestly, this is excellent news. I know some Evertonians were maybe not fully convinced of him a couple of years ago but he's almost single-handedly kept us in the Premier League the past couple of seasons and has now really seemed to have matured into a top goalkeeper. It's now almost laughable to see people criticise or doubt him.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton fan Lee McClean says Jordan Pickford has been "the difference" in the Toffees avoiding relegation in recent years.

"In his early years at Everton I think Pickford's antics sometimes overshadowed his performances and he was more erratic, but certainly in recent years he has put a lid on that," McClean told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"His performances are much more mature. He's a little bit crazy but he has put in the performances to back it up.

"Having a really good goalkeeper has been the difference between dropping to the Championship and not in recent years.

"If you spoke to most Evertonians, they'll tell you. Certainly between around 2021 to 2023 Pickford was a massive, massive part of the club staying in the division."

The 31-year-old's new Toffees deal has coincided with him breaking Gordon Banks' record with his eighth consecutive clean sheet for England - making it over 12 months without conceding a goal for his country.

"This narrative that he produces his best stuff for England, but at Everton he's not faultless, is just lazy," McClean said. "It can create agendas and I think there is an agenda against Pickford. It must be difficult for him.

"He could have made the decision to move on and go and challenge for trophies elsewhere but you've got to take into account the top four, top six sides often have really good goalkeepers in situ already.

"Everton are a big club and he's England's undisputed number one because he's at Everton. His family are very settled, his wife loves the area, his kids are settled at school.

"What gives even more weight to the idea Pickford is a world-class goalkeeper and more than worthy of his place as England's number one is because he is playing for Everton.

"He has been fighting towards the bottom of the division, often facing more shots than other goalkeepers, yet still has come out in the past two or three seasons as part of the best defence outside of the top four.

"I'm just glad he's ours and has showed his loyalty to Everton."

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford said Everton is a "special club" to him and the "dark days are behind us" after signing a new deal.

The 31-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-year contract to extend his long stay with the Toffees to 2029.

Since joining from Sunderland in 2017, Pickford has made 326 appearances for Everton in all competitions.

"I'm delighted," he told club media. "Delighted to get it done – it's an extra two years, so four years in total.

"I'm over the moon and it gives me the opportunity to build a legacy for myself here, move forward and build this club to where we want to be.

"Everton is a really special club to me. Coming from Sunderland as a young lad and growing into a man here, it's been a special time for me and my family.

"It's always felt like a natural fit for me, with the fans and the passion – it's second to none and something I thrive off.

"It's been a mega journey so far."

The England number one has been a key figure for the Merseyside club in recent seasons as they battled against relegation and financial difficulties, but now feels the club is heading in the right direction.

"I think the dark days are behind us and it's about building that momentum as a team and the club now," Pickford added. "I think it's the whole deal, really.

"The new owners have come in and have shown they want to move us forward, the manager since he has come in has shown that, too, and us as players on the pitch.

"We've started well and we want to keep building that momentum and get Everton Football Club back to a team that competes in Europe. We know it's tough to do but it's a journey we want to go on and it's hard work that we'll put in as a club.

"We want to have that direction and, hopefully, one day we'll lift some silverware as well."

Happy to see the goalkeeper's deal confirmed? How important for Everton is Pickford committing his future to the club? And where does he rank among the greats?

Get in touch with your views here