Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos picks up FOURTH red card this season in 4-2 win against Aberdeen (and his third red against them!)

By

Nathan Salt For Mailonline

Published:
17:12 EST, 6 February 2019

|
Updated:
19:02 EST, 6 February 2019

Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos faces yet another spell on the sidelines after picking up his fourth red card of the season against Aberdeen on Wednesday night. 

The Colombian striker has been electric since Steven Gerrard took charge but has also seen his temper get the better of him – no more so than against Aberdeen. 

His red at Pittodrie, having scored twice in the 4-2 win, is his third this season against the Dons and it all came after a clumsy fracas which saw Aberdeen defender Scott McKenna also sent off.   

Alfredo Morelos scored twice but soon got his marching orders with his fourth red this season

A hands-on scuffle with Aberdeen defender Scott McKenna saw both players shown red cards 

It was Morelos’ fourth red card this season and his third against Aberdeen THIS SEASON

The Rangers forward was escorted down the tunnel as he awaits another spell suspended

Astonishingly, Morelos has got half as many red cards in 30 games for Rangers this season (4) as Gerrard got in his 710-game Liverpool career. 

Domestically, the 22-year-old striker has only been given his marching orders against Aberdeen. 

His other red card came in Europa League qualifying against Russian side FC Ufa back in August where he collected two yellows. 

The game was a fascinating watch and having earlier given away a penalty for a hand-ball, McKenna’s evening was about to become the big talking point when he cleared under pressure from Morelos. 

McKenna cleared under pressure from Morelos before the Rangers man went down clutching his face in what looked like a retaliation from the Aberdeen man following a Morelos stamp

Referee Bobby Madden took his time to make the decision with both players down on the turf

Hooking the ball clear the Scotland international fell to the floor and Morelos appeared to stamp on the Aberdeen defender. 

McKenna has plenty of bite in him and retaliated by swinging a kick back toward Morelos who went down clutching his face before writhing round on the surface until the Aberdeen man was sent off. 

But referee Bobby Madden would not be fooled and remarkably for the third time this season against Aberdeen, Morelos was off after Madden felt he too had been guilty in the pair’s clash.   

Earlier in the contest Morelos was the difference for all the right reasons.  

The first red card of the season for the striker came in Europa League qualifying against FC Ufa

Rangers opening game of the Premiership season set the tone with Morelos picking up a red

Morelos was given a second yellow against Dereck McInnes’ side back in a match in December

After 20 minutes Gerrard’s side took the lead through Morelos who ran off in celebration with his finger pressed to his lips. A pantomime villain these days in this fixture, something he appears to relish in. 

Sam Cosgrove equalised for the hosts soon after but it was to be Morelos again on the score-sheet as he converted after being played in by Ryan Kent to make it 2-1. 

The pace of the game was magnificent, Rangers scoring their third before half-time from the penalty spot as James Tavernier held his nerve after McKenna’s hand-ball inside the box. 

Cosgrove grabbed his second 10 minutes before both sides were one man down. In the end the experience of Jermain Defoe proved telling for the Gers, coming off the bench to wrap up the win and keep Gerrard’s side within six points of leaders Celtic. 

It was an intriguing battle between the players all evening as Morelos beat McKenna to score

The swagger and confidence was obvious with Morelos seemingly enjoying his treatment

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Everton faces old and new catch up after Man City defeat as John Stones returns to the home dressing room at Goodison Park with Mikel Arteta

• Manchester City beat Everton 2-0 at Goodison Park on Wednesday night 
• After the game, a number of faces old and new caught up with one another 
• John Stones and Mikel Arteta both visited the home dressing room after the win
• Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka and Tim Cahill were also present for a picture 

By

Tom Farmery For Mailonline

Published:
19:01 EST, 6 February 2019

|
Updated:
19:18 EST, 6 February 2019

Everton faces old and new came together for an impromptu catch up on Wednesday night after Manchester City’s win at Goodison Park.

A 2-0 win for City moved them top of the Premier League, overtaking Everton’s fiercest rivals Liverpool.

John Stones and Mikel Arteta – two familiar faces on Merseyside – both went into the home dressing room after the game.    

Everton players old and new caught up at Goodison Park after the game on Wednesday night – left to right: James McCarthy, Andre Gomes, Leighton Baines, Seamus Coleman, John Stones, Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka

There they were joined by current Everton players, former team-mates and close friends for a photograph.

Dan Donachie, head of therapy services at the Toffees, got everyone together for the snap, which he later posted on Twitter. He captioned the picture: ‘Legends and friends.’

Stones was flanked by Leighton Baines, with Seamus Coleman stood behind him. Both helped Stones throughout his development at Everton after joining from Barnsley in 2013.

Leighton Baines and Stones during their playing days together at Everton in February 2016

Mikel Arteta and Tim Cahill (pictured in 2010) have stayed close friends since leaving the club

Arteta, stood at the back of the room in the shot, was next to close friend and former Everton team-mates Tim Cahill.

To Arteta’s left was Phil Jagielka, who the former Spanish midfielder also played with at Everton.

Also pictured were James McCarthy and Andre Gomes, who is on loan from Barcelona. 

Stones (left) celebrates with his Manchester City team-mates after Wednesday night’s win

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Job done. In different circumstances, Manchester City’s performance might have raised the odd eyebrow. They can certainly play better and did so as recently as Sunday. But some nights are about the result, and the result alone. Nights like this one, when three points restored City to the top of the table. How they got there is immaterial; which is probably just as well.

December 15, 2018, was the last day that ended with Manchester City in first place, so the timing is important, too. Liverpool have had it their way for the best part of two months, but no more. By defeating Everton, City overhauled them on goal difference and it may well be nip and tuck like this for the rest of the season. 

Liverpool loyalists will point to the game in hand and say they only have to beat Bournemouth at home to restore supremacy, but that is merely half the story. Yes, Liverpool can go top in three days time – just as City can then snatch it back 24 hours later – but their game in hand is not actually taking place this weekend.  

Aymeric Laporte had the final say as his goal sent Manchester City to the top of the Premier League table on Wednesday night

The French defender broke free from his marker and was gifted a free header as Everton lost concentration at the set-piece

Having missed an earlier opportunity, Laporte kept his eye on the ball this time to power back across goal and make it 2-0 

Pickford’s face summed up the disappointment at having conceded just seconds before the referee’s whistle for half-time

Things got worse for Everton with seconds left on the clock as Gabriel Jesus came off the bench to add a second goal for City

The Brazilian raised his arm in celebration knowing that City’s squad, staff and supporters could celebrate winning the match

In the end it was job well done for City as they left Merseyside back on top of the Premier League table on goal difference

Wednesday night’s fixture was brought forward from the weekend when Manchester City play Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final – and on that day Liverpool travel to Manchester United. That is the game in hand, and it promises to be one of the toughest matches of the season.

So, for the time being, advantage City. It has been an impressive reaction to defeat at Newcastle nine days ago. After that, City must have though they could be looking at a seven-point deficit by the following night, instead, maximum points later, it is Liverpool who must view the league table with a degree of trepidation.

Yet, while the scoreline might appear emphatic – Goodison Park is never an easy place to visit, even with the home team in poor form – this was not vintage City. It was, however, effective City. They scored from a set piece, which the world knows is Everton’s weakness, and defended resolutely and not a little cynically, when necessary.  

Everton boss Marco Silva was witnessing a big improvement from his players on their last match but was still not best pleased

Everton have been in poor form but looked to go toe-to-toe with a physical approach working in the early stages of the game

Tackles were flying in and David Silva was left clutching his thigh after being brought down by Everton’s Michael Keane

The Manchester City boss cut an animated figure in his technical area throughout given the significance of winning the game

MATCH FACTS, RATINGS, TABLE AND MATCH ZONE

EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Pickford 7, Kenny 6.5, Keane 7, Zouma 7, Digne 6, Gueye 7, Andre Gomes 6.5 (Sigurdsson 63), Walcott 5.5 (Tosun 80), Davies 7, Bernard 7 (Richarlison 73), Calvert-Lewin 7. 

Subs not used: McCarthy, Schneiderlin, Stekelenburg, Coleman.

Booked: Zouma  

Manager: Marco Silva 6.5

MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Ederson 7, Walker 6.5, Stones 7, Otamendi 7, Laporte 8, Gundogan 7, Fernandinho 7, Silva 7 (De Bruyne 89), Bernardo Silva 6.5, Aguero 7 (Gabriel Jesus 80), Sane 6 (Sterling 59). 

Subs not used: Danilo, Mahrez, Zinchenko, Muric. 

Scorers: Laporte (45+2), Jesus (90+7)

Booked: Fernandinho

Manager: Pep Guardiola 7

Attendance: 39,322 

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire) 

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How Aymeric Laporte opened the scoring for Manchester City on the stroke of half-time. Find more in Sportsmail’s dedicated MATCH ZONE.

Ratings provided by Sportsmail’s DOMINIC KING at Goodison Park 

After Fernandinho was finally booked with roughly 15 minutes remaining he could have asked for another three or four offences to be taken into consideration. All good teams have ugly victories in their arsenal, mind, and the pressure was on the champions for all the talk of this being one match Everton manager Marco Silva could afford to lose.

It certainly didn’t seem a casual display, no matter the negative impact Everton’s defeat had on Liverpool’s title chances. Evertonians might have sounded conflicted about the outcome, but Everton’s players suffered no such anguish. 

They tried to find a way through, but simply couldn’t and spent long periods of the second-half testing massed ranks of City defenders to no avail. To their credit, City dug in, as champions do, and finally pulled away in the seventh minute of injury time. Kevin De Bruyne sent Gabriel Jesus clear of Everton’s defence and when Jordan Pickford saved, the Brazilian improvised and headed the rebound into an empty net.

But this was as much about City’s resilience as their flair. The defence live very much in the shadow of their forwards under Pep Guardiola – that much is understandable – but this does not mean they are without quality. They play a high risk game, which can appear fragile, but if Everton could hold out like it, they would not have lost so many games to set piece moves this season. 

The French international was a threat in the air early on but could only power his free header well wide of an open Everton net

Laporte had the best chance of the game in the early stages but could barely look after seeing his header fly wide of the goal

It was a head in hands moment for Guardiola after being left in disbelief that the centre back had put wide the free header

England manager Gareth Southgate and his assistant Steve Holland assumed their seats to take in the midweek league action

Silva’s men have now conceded 17 goals from set pieces this season, including 11 in the Premier League, the worst in the competition, so City’s first goal really shouldn’t have come as a surprise. They were even served notice earlier and ignored that, too. 

Aymeric Laporte came very close from a David Silva corner after just 16 minutes, steering it wide from no more than a yard out. Did Everton learn their lesson? Did they heck. In the final minute of the first-half, Manchester City won a free-kick midway in Everton’s half, and the outcome was sadly predictable.

It was a poor free-kick to give away, Idrissa Gueye on Fernandinho, but that alone need not have proved calamitous. How was Laporte given so much space, knowing what Everton had already seen? How was he given so much space considering what Everton must know about the weaknesses of their zonal system? 

Still, there it was: a teasing delivery from David Silva and Laporte in almost an identical position to the previous occasion, but this time able to send the ball back across goal, looping out of the reach of Jordan Pickford. 

Kyle Walker made his feelings known to his team-mates as tensions were high among the Manchester City side in the first half

With Southgate watching on, Pickford was keen to impress and he produced a wonderful save to deny Silva from close range

Sergio Aguero, buoyed by his weekend hat-trick against Arsenal, went for an acrobatic effort as City looked for a second goal

German winger Leroy Sane made his feelings known to his manager after being less than impressed at being subbed off 

It was the first time City had got the ball on target all game – and the 15th time this season they scored with their first goalbound opportunity. Yet it is hard to argue that Everton were hard done by when they had offered so little themselves. 

One chance was the sum of it, in the first-half, a nicely-worked move began by captain Tom Davies – and what a credit to have that accolade at his age – picking out Theo Walcott with a lovely through pass. His cross found Bernard, whose header was deflected just wide.

For City, Leroy Sane on the left flank was particularly wasteful. He saw a lot of the ball but was loose in his treatment of it and too many City manoeuvres were frittered away by poor control, or a lame final pass. 

The best of it from him came after just three minutes when he snapped up an Everton clearance and hit a shot from 20 yards that flew inches wide of the far post.  

Bernardo Silva struggled to have an impact on the game wide on the right but did force Pickford into an awkward stop

Theo Walcott was given the nod to start but did little over the contest as he once again struggled in front of a home crowd

Raheem Sterling, on in place of Sane at the hour mark, proved a tricky customer as he was direct wide down the left wing

It was another impressive performance from David Silva and he went close to doubling the lead with a shot from distance

In the 19th minute, David Silva’s cross was met by Ilkay Gundogan at the near post and diverted onto the bar. 

Aguero nearly scored with an overhead kick in the second-half. Still, with De Bruyne, Sterling and Riyad Mahrez on the bench, one imagines Guardiola’s finger rarely hovers above the panic button for long.

If Jurgen Klopp found the match last night – football people can tune into the games that others can’t, no illegal feeds for them – might have even have been encouraged by what he saw? There was not a lot here to suggest City are in greatly better nick than Liverpool right now although they have impressively cut the leaders down to size over a matter of days. 

Maybe it’s just that City know how to win a league as front-runners, while this is new territory for Liverpool. 

First place may well change hands many more times before a trophy is lifted, but City know the course and distance and, last night, that certainly seemed to count for something.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin was energetic leading the line for Everton, hassling and harrying City defenders throughout the game

Cenk Tosun came off the bench and thought he had nicked an equaliser before being thwarted from close range by Ederson

Tempers were always close to boiling over and they almost did late on when substitute Richarlison put his head to Walker

Guardiola was a bundle of energy right until the final whistle as he knew the psychological significance to returning to the top

Everton fans celebrate defeat to Manchester City as their loss knocks Liverpool off Premier League top spot

• Everton fans appeared happy after losing to Manchester City at Goodison Park
• Man City’s win takes them level on points with Liverpool at top of the table 
• Aymeric Laporte and Sergio Augero scored at end of both halves in victory 

By

James Ayles For Mailonline

Published:
18:25 EST, 6 February 2019

|
Updated:
18:57 EST, 6 February 2019

Everton supporters expressed their satisfaction after a 2-0 defeat by Manchester City that saw city rivals knocked off the Premier League summit.

Goals from Aymeric Laporte and Sergio Aguero helped the reigning champions to a victory that saw them move back up to the top of the table on goal difference.

The Toffees could have a further say in the title race as their next home match is the Merseyside Derby on March 3. 

Everton suffered a third defeat in their last five games after losing 2-0 to Manchester City

City city top of the league 😂😂😂😂😂😂🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

— Efc lover 🇳🇴🇳🇴 (@EvertonOslo) February 6, 2019

A number of Everton fans were happy to see their side lose as Liverpool lost top spot

Everton have now lost three of their last five games as boss Marco Silva comes under increasing pressure, but fans appear ready to let him have a pass on this game. 

The hosts sit ninth in the table on 33 points, 15 behind fifth-placed Manchester United and 11 above the relegation zone. 

On Twitter, one fan said: ‘I think I’m over that defeat already you know. Can’t win them all.’

Another added: ‘We fought heroically but fell just short. Sorry red s*****.’ 

Props to Everton for acting like they were competing in a football match, whilst secretly hoping for City to score.

— 1886 (@1886_blog) February 6, 2019

 

Got a bad feeling that going 4-3-3 and dropping Sig might see us Everton this and beat them.

— Everton Aren’t We (@EvertonArentWe) February 6, 2019

 

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