Manchester City ascended to the Premier League pinnacle with a 2-0 victory over Everton, thanks to Erling Haaland’s crucial double, marking his scoring return for the first time since November.

The match at the Etihad Stadium witnessed the champions struggling to dismantle a resolute Everton defense for the majority of the game. However, Haaland’s late goals in the second half revitalised City’s attack, breaking his scoring drought after a nearly two-month hiatus due to a foot injury.

Haaland’s last Premier League goals were against Liverpool on November 25, and his most recent goal in any competition was against Leipzig in the Champions League on November 28. With this win, City claimed the top spot in the league for the first time since November 24. Liverpool could overtake them with a victory against Burnley at Anfield.

Despite winning their last 10 games across all competitions, Pep Guardiola’s team faced a challenging Everton side that hasn’t secured a win against City since 2017.

The game was marked by City’s dominance in possession, yet Everton’s defensive strategy initially thwarted their efforts to score.

Guardiola’s tactical adjustments in the second half, including introducing Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker, eventually paid off. Haaland’s opener came from a deflected strike, igniting celebrations and alleviating the tension among the City squad. His second goal demonstrated his exceptional prowess, as he overpowered Everton’s defense to coolly finish past Jordan Pickford, celebrating his 50th Premier League start with a memorable performance.