ERLING HAALAND left it a bit late by his own astonishing, fearsome standards but he still added to his incredible record.
As the only Prem player to have hit ten or more goals in the first eight Prem games of the season – and he had done so twice – there was one more chance to do so again going into this clash.
For almost an hour it seemed like David Moyes side might stop him turning his record into a treble.
But the Norwegian raider was having none of it, grabbing a double in five electrifying second half minutes to send Pep Guardiola’s side top.
Haaland got to the magic ten mark after six games in 2022-23 and by his fifth two seasons later.
It took him all of that eight-game allowance this time to hit then go past that magic ten – goal mark and take his tally for the campaign to eleven.
But in the end he did so in style, his hits over this season’s first 13 games for club and country to a mind-blowing 23, and with a bit of luck he could have had two more by the end of this.
Moyes will no doubt have remembered the date well as he took his place in the coaching zone.
Everton arrived winless in their last 14 top flight visits since a 2 – 1 victory on December 20, 2010 and he was manager then in his first time as manager.
He might have been celebrating within 13 minutes of his first time back since returning in January for Beto should have grabbed the opener.
Tijani Reijnders went to sleep in possession, Iliman Ndiaye profited and jet down the right flank before delivering a cross with the City defence torn asunder.
But Beto reacted a millisecond too late, his stretch at the far post enough only to push a glorious opportunity wide of stranded Gianluigi Donnarumma’s right hand post.
Moyes’ side would have argued that they deserved to take the lead for they had been feisty and adventurous, clearly determined they would not allow themselves to be fish in a barrel.
Yet City , trying to move the ball fast, also had chances in an entertaining first 25 minutes.
Reijnders flashed one shot just wide, as did Matheus Nunes before Phil Foden, very much looking like he is regaining the form that two seasons ago made him double player of the year, clipped in a high ball from wide.
Haaland met it full force with his forehead but his effort smacked against Jordan Pickford’s bar.
But the Toffees stuck to their counter-attacking task and even without new icon Jack Grealish, sat in the stand and ineligible following his summer loan move from the Etihad, they were dangerous.
Moyes did go did go into this clash suggesting that with City still going through a re-invention, there was a better chance than most of those last 14 visits to finally end that miserable sequence.
Four minutes before the break he got further encouragement, Ndiaye letting fly with a screamer that took all of Donnarumma’s world-class talents to tip over.
The response was immediate and resulted in a very fine block from the Italian’s opposite number after Haaland ploughed through the middle and touched to Reijnders.
The Dutchman touched to Jeremy Doku but Pickford kept his nerve to block from eight yards.
City, for Tuesday night’s Champions League visit, slowly upped the tempo after the break and the breakthrough arrived in the 58th minute – no surprise Haaland opening the Toffees’ door.
Reijnders got himself down the left flank, stood his cross high, and with a true Viking leap, the Norwegian powered home his header.
Within five minutes the towering Norwegian was back – and Moyes and his side were done.
Savinho found him just inside the box and from that point on it was job done, Haaland drilling his low shot through James Tarkowski’s legs, Pickford powerless.
Haaland celebrated, so did Guardiola. For Everton, very much a threat now that Moyes is back offered stubborn resistance.
But they lack a proper striker. City have the best in the business, Haaland Prem figures now sitting at a staggering 96 goals in just 105 appearances.
