What Rodri did at half-time of Man City win vs Everton speaks volumes

Manchester City were poor in the first half of their win against Everton but a pep talk from Rodri inspired a better second half and a 2-0 win.

Manchester City made it eight games unbeaten as they beat Everton 2-0 at the Etihad thanks to another big contribution from Erling Haaland.

Pep Guardiola's side struggled for inspiration in the first half and the game was drifting along until Haaland headed home Nico O'Reilly's cross just before the hour mark.

Five minutes later he swept home a pass from Savinho to double the lead and would have been disappointed not to make it a hat-trick when he missed a couple of one-on-ones in injury time.

The victory extended City's run of form and strengthened their mounting Premier League challenge.

No Donnarumma drama

This was another stress free outing for City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who kept his fourth clean sheet in seven games for the Blues.

He didn't have a huge amount to do, but made one solid save from Iliman Ndiaye in the first half. He repelled Everton's early threat from a long throw and came out of his six-yard box to claim a cross in the second half.

That was the kind of moment we have come to expect from the 26-year-old, but he made what could have been a difficult take look staggeringly easy.

Maybe it says everything about Donnarumma's start at the club that those moments are being taken for granted but his ability to come out and dominate his area is easing plenty of pressure on the City defence and that is a major bonus.

Rodri pep talk

It had been a disappointing first half for City and they had clearly been given some stern half-time instructions from Guardiola, before Rodri offered his own advice in the tunnel.

Ruben Dias and Phil Foden were the first there ready to head out after the break and were greeted by the Spanish midfielder in his slacks, who delivered his own pep talk.

Rodri looked animated as he maybe passed on a few tips before Guardiola reappeared and delivered a few more words to the players before they returned to the pitch. Maybe it did the trick as City were certainly much improved after the break.

Reijnders' scoring touch

Once again this was a game that featured a good chance for Tijjani Reijnders, and once again it didn't end up in the back of the net. He still hasn't scored for City since the opening day of the season - more than two months ago.

He has now had a shot in all 13 starts for club and country this season. The only appearance in which he hasn't had a shot was his 14-minute run out at Huddersfield.

A lot of them are good chances as well and his shot when found by Jeremy Doku eight yards out against Everton was the 14th of his 25 for City to be inside the penalty area. This time, it was deflected wide and out for a corner.

It feels inevitable that Reijnders will go on a scoring run soon, but for now he just can't add to that impressive strike against Wolves in August.

Ake's surprise start

It had been eight months since Nathan Ake last started a Premier League game and with the increased competition at the back it had seemed his days were numbered at the Etihad.

Everton were one of the clubs interested in the Netherlands international this summer and he has been told by Ronald Koeman he needs to play regularly to have a chance of making the World Cup squad.

Maybe that is why Guardiola threw him a bone on Saturday, handing him a start with Josko Gvardiol and John Stones both on the bench.

The 30-year-old had a rocky start, which peaked when he passed the ball straight to Iliman Ndiaye to start an Everton counter. Ndiaye's low cross should have been converted by Beto and it was a huge let off for City as well as Ake.