World champs offer timely reminder that focus is back on Prem crown

The world champions have their eyes back on conquering England again.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

City may have shown some of the recurring problems of their season in their first appearance back in the Premier League since winning their latest trophy.

However, a second-half fightback was enough to remind everyone that anyone who wants to finish above Pep Guardiola's side will have an almighty fight on their hands to dethrone the serial winners.

A trip to Sean Dyche's Everton felt like the sort of trip that could bring the Treble winners crashing back down to earth after their triumph in Jeddah last week, and for a time it did.

A bright start from the visitors was wiped out by yet more sloppy play that has been all too evident in a run of just one league win from their last six going into this.

After half an hour, the comparisons to previous iterations of this City side felt painfully on the nose at a ground where they have previously made it look easy.

Ilkay Gundogan spun expertly here in the box last spring to flick in the opening goal and Erling Haaland added a second moments later to put the Blues on their way to an eighth consecutive win at Goodison. Gundogan has since moved on despite City's best wishes if not their best efforts after the midfielder wasn't offered what he wanted to stay at the Etihad in good enough time.

Matheus Nunes, a £51m signing from Wolves aimed at rebuilding the midfield had the chance to open the scoring last night but saw a weak shot parried by Jordan Pickford and Julian Alvarez, deputizing for Haaland, couldn't put the rebound in.