Manchester City recovered from a first-half setback to record a 3-1 win over Everton in Wednesday's Premier League clash at Goodison Park.
Jack Harrison sent the Toffees ahead against the run of play in the 29th minute of the contest, but Phil Foden levelled the scores in the 53rd minute, before a Julian Alvarez penalty 11 minutes later and a late Bernardo Silva effort secured all three points for the reigning English champions.
Man City had not been on Premier League duty since the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on December 16, having been in action at the Club World Cup, winning the competition courtesy of a 4-0 success over Fluminense in the final.
The team's absence from domestic matters had seen them drop to fifth spot in the table, eight points off leaders Liverpool, but they are now back in fourth, five points behind Jurgen Klopp's side with a game in hand.
Everton, meanwhile, remain in 17th position, boasting 16 points from their opening 19 matches, just one point clear of 18th-placed Luton Town, who have a game in hand.
Erling Haaland was again absent for the English champions, with Citizens head coach Pep Guardiola saying ahead of kickoff that the Norway international, who has scored 19 times in all competitions this season, would not be back until January at the earliest.
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Man City had a brilliant chance to take the lead in the fourth minute at Goodison Park when an excellent move ended with Jack Grealish feeding Alvarez in a dangerous position, but the Argentine's effort was impressively kept out by Toffees goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Four minutes later, the Citizens came close again, with Kyle Walker striking one from distance, but his effort was deflected just wide of the post, before Foden missed the target from a dangerous area in the 12th minute, with the away side making the faster start to the contest.
Man City had two more golden chances in the 14th minute, but Pickford did brilliantly to keep out a strike from Matheus Nunes before diverting Alvarez's effort wide from the rebound, with Everton level due to their goalkeeper's shot-stopping abilities.
Pickford was again in action in the 24th minute, keeping out a strike from Grealish, and all of the pressure was coming from Man City, but Everton incredibly took the lead in the 27th minute.
A mistake from Rodri inside his own box allowed Dwight McNeil to deliver into a dangerous area, and Harrison was on hand to finish into the back of the net to stun the English champions.
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Rodri fired wide of the target in the 32nd minute, with the visitors looking to respond, before Ederson had to keep out a clever effort from Harrison down the other end.
John Stones picked up an injury late in the first period in a collision with Beto, with the forward threatening to get a shot away, only for the offside flag to be raised; the defender was able to continue after a period of treatment, but he was unable to run it off and had to be replaced in the 43rd minute.
Rodri had the first chance of the second period in the 48th minute, but the midfielder's effort from outside the box was always rising over the home side's crossbar.
James Tarkowski did brilliantly to turn a low cross from Foden wide of the Everton post in the 52nd minute, with Man City threatening to level the scores at Goodison Park.
The equaliser came shortly after, and it was a stunning hit from Foden, who picked out the bottom corner with a thunderous strike from distance to silence the home supporters.
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Man City came close to a second in the 54th minute, with Foden turning a low Alvarez cross towards goal, but it somehow scrambled wide of the target, before Pickford kept out an Alvarez free kick on the hour.
The Citizens were awarded a penalty in the 62nd minute of the contest, with Nathan Ake firing the ball towards Amadou Onana, and it did hit the midfielder's arm before striking his head, but it was certainly a harsh decision.
Alvarez stepped forward for the champions, and the World Cup winner made no mistake, placing it down the middle, with the diving Pickford just failing to keep it out with his feet.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin passed up a huge chance to level in the 75th minute, somehow turning a low Harrison cross wide of the post from close range, before Alvarez fired just over the crossbar down the other end 10 minutes later, with the champions still 2-1 ahead.
However, Man City secured the points in the 86th minute, with Bernardo picking out an empty net from distance after Pickford had a clearance charged down, and Foden then struck the post in stoppage time, with the Citizens threatening a fourth.
Guardiola's side will continue their league campaign at home to basement side Sheffield United on Saturday, while Everton will finish their year with a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on the same afternoon.
Matt Law
