Everton ace Alex Iwobi slammed after what happened in loss v Manchester City
Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi didn’t “track his runner” during Manchester City’s second goal at Goodison Park on Sunday (14 May), according to pundit Michael Ball.
The visitors ran out 3-0 winners in the Premier League clash thanks to one goal from Erling Haaland and a double from Ilkay Gundogan.
But Ball believes the goal from Haaland was avoidable, with Iwobi leaving his teammate Nathan Patterson in a vulnerable position in the build-up.
“I felt a bit deflated after the first goal because I didn’t think Everton deserved to go a goal down,” Ball wrote for the Liverpool Echo.
“Obviously, City were controlling the game but I thought we were still in the contest, and the fans’ reaction to try and get the boys back into the game was really good.
“But soon after it was another soft goal. A bit too easy. Alex Iwobi didn’t really track his runner and left Nathan Patterson in a two-on-one, and, again, Haaland found space in the middle of the six-yard box for his header. Two of their goals were in the middle of the six-yard box really.”
Harsh lesson
Everton went into the meeting with Manchester City filled with confidence having just smashed Brighton 5-1, but everyone knew Pep Guardiola’s men would represent a different challenge entirely.
The Manchester outfit proved their worth with a very professional display at both ends of the pitch, giving the Toffees problem after problem on a frustrating afternoon for the hosts.
Preventing Haaland from getting on the scoresheet was always going to be a near-impossible task, and try as they might, the Everton defence could only watch on as the star striker headed the ball home just before the halfway stage.
The loss leaves Sean Dyche’s men sitting 17th in the table, just a point above the bottom three with two matches remaining.
The Merseyside outfit will be hoping that goal difference does not come into play on the final day, with all their hard work at Brighton coming undone against Manchester City.