Late goals in either half condemned Everton to a 2-0 defeat by Manchester City.

A much-changed Blues line-up held their own against the reigning Premier League champions as they aimed to reclaim top spot from leaders Liverpool.

But Marco Silva’s side were undone in first-half stoppage time as Aymeric Laporte headed the ball into the Gwladys Street’s net unchallenged from a City corner.

Matters were compounded in the 97th minutes when substitute Gabriel Jesus sent a looping header after Jordan Pickford blocked his initial effort.

Here were the key talking points from Goodison Park:

No half-measures from Silva

 

For some Evertonians, this was the ultimate heart versus head conundrum.

Did they want to beat Manchester City and effectively gift Liverpool an upper hand or begrudgingly take a loss to stave off their local rivals’ title ambitions?

With five changes and a more cautious approach, there was no risk that Marco Silva would find himself conflicted about the visit of Pep Guardiola’s side.

In spite of the scoreline, this was among the Blues’ more promising performances this season, and possibly their best since the Merseyside derby.

Rarely does Goodison greet a home defeat with warm applause but there was a clear recognition of the efforts from both Silva and his players to stop the rot.

…but Blues still undone by the late show

 

Conceding from set pieces has become the new normal at Goodison.

Currently, it rests behind an airing of Z-Cars before kick-off and the crossbar challenge at half time in terms of the Grand Old Lady’s match day routine.

Shipping a 17th goal from set play in all competitions is hardly a phenonemon but the latest sequence of events is equally high on Everton’s defensive snag list.

Four injury-time free kicks in as many recent games is a cause for concern, with Aymeric Laporte the latest beneficiary in the 47th minute of first-half action.

Silva’s need to fix disorderly defending has to take on many forms.

Local lads lead by example

 

Guardiola’s first trip to Goodison, back in January 2017, saw his side comfortably dethroned by its hosts with a certain Tom Davies dominating proceedings at will.

Barely two years on, the West Derby-born midfielder again set the tone for Everton with the captain’s armband firmly in his possession for the evening.

Little fazed Davies, even when Fernandinho routinely attempted to cut him down to size. He was not Goodison’s only home-grown graduate to shine, however.

Jonjoe Kenny ran his fellow Scouser close for the hosts’ man of the match accolade despite being afforded little protection at right-back by Theo Walcott.

Both Davies and Kenny have come in for their fair share of criticism in recent months, but no one can dispute that the pair set the standard against City.

Gana’s head is back in the game

 

If you were to believe the cynics, Idrissa Gueye’s recent injury was not a groin problem but rather one related to having his head turned by Paris Saint-Germain.

But suggestions that the Senegal international is still suffering from whiplash due to a January transfer saga which never was lack genuine credence.

Gueye’s first outing since the Ligue 1 champions’ failed approach had the potential to see personal disappointment manifest itself in downed tools.

But the midfielder delivered a consummate performance in Everton’s engine room, even if he was culpable for the free kick which led to City’s opener.

The only place that Gueye’s head appears to be now is back in the game.