(Football news) A late goal by Phil Foden ensured Manchester City secured all three points at Goodison Park against Everton as the reigning champions extended their lead to six points at the top of the table. Despite dominating for the majority of the second half, City can count themselves lucky to have won this fixture, especially considering that Everton should have had a penalty when the ball struck Rodri’s arm in the closing stages. The result leaves Everton just one point above the relegation zone.

Everton showed a spirited performance in the first half with Donny Van De Beek particularly impressive for the Toffees, resulting in a standing ovation from the Goodison Park crowd at the team's performance. However, it was a completely different story in the second half as Everton were forced to drop deeper while City pushed for an opening goal. Jordan Pickford had to make a fantastic double save to deny Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva midway through the second half. City eventually found the breakthrough due to an error from Michael Keane as Phil Foden found the back of the net in the 82nd minute. 

The result means Manchester City have now won 15 out of their last 17 Premier League matches and are six points clear of second place Liverpool in the league table. One of the biggest talking points of the match was when Everton were denied a penalty after the ball struck Rodri’s upper arm in the later stages of the match. The on-field decision was that it wasn’t a penalty and VAR agreed with the referee’s decision, which in hindsight appears to be the wrong one. 

After the match, Frank Lampard was furious at the decision to not give the penalty for the blatant handball. He said in the post match interview “I was calm, I was not shouting and ranting at him. I wanted to know if it was offside in the build-up but I have been told it wasn't in the build-up. Go to VAR, they have two minutes to look at it and to think they have not given that as a penalty when it strikes him on the arm, in an unnatural position. I have a three-year-old daughter at home who could tell you that was a penalty.

"We are fighting at the bottom of the table and they are fighting at the top. Decisions are crucial. I don't know what has to happen as a reflection of that. A mistake is when you have done something wrong and don't have time to think about it, they had two minutes to digest the handball. Even if the VAR says not sure, then go have a look. It is incompetence at best, if not that then someone needs to explain what it is."

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