EPL 2018-19: 5 Talking Points - Manchester City 3-1 Everton 

Manchester City hosted Everton in the Premier League's Matchday 17 after they had suffered a defeat at Chelsea in their previous game. The Cityzens lost their top spot in the league table to Liverpool but came into the game with a chance to reclaim it, at least until Liverpool faced off against Manchester United.

Everton came to the Etihad Stadium, winless in their previous three league games. They conceded in injury time against Liverpool and were held to a 1-1 draw by Newcastle. Lucas Digne saved a point for the Toffees with his injury time freekick against Watford. Both teams came to the pitch to a light drizzle but an awfully cold atmosphere.

For the Cityzens, both Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero were available for selection after their injury lay-offs. Raheem Sterling started from the bench. The Toffees left Theo Walcott on the bench and started with young Dominic Calvert-Lewin as their striker. Bernard, Richarlison, Andre Gomes and Sigurdsson supported the youngster in the midfield.

Everton frustrated the Cityzens with their adamant defence giving no way through for the forwards. But a defensive lapse was all it took for Manchester City to get their first goal. Sane found Gabriel Jesus with a through ball who struck past Pickford. In the second half, Manchester City came in with more attacking prowess and doubled their lead through Jesus' header. Calvert-Lewin pulled one back for Marco Silva's men but it was cancelled out quickly by Sterling's first touch in the game.

Here are five talking points from the game.

#5 Yerry Mina hands momentum to the Cityzens after all the hard work by the Toffees

Yerry Mina's double-minded clearance which gifted the Cityzens the first goal.

It is easier said than done to contain the Manchester City players when they have the intention to attack. The Toffees though were looking very good though. They held their defensive lines and when they had the chance they asked questions of City's defense.

But the problem for Everton came when they tried to build from the back. City's press was pressurizing the Toffees to hit the shot long rather than keep possession. Yerry Mina, under pressure from Mahrez, lobbed the ball in the air, neither meant to keep possession nor to clear the danger. The half-hearted clearance was picked up by Sane and neatly threaded to Jesus who did the rest.

While City was looking to find a way through by some means and was coming out unsuccessful, Mina gifted them the opportunity to calm their nerves and frustrations. It should be considered a huge momentum shift which killed Everton's morality for the rest of the first half.

#4 Richarlison silent, Dominic Calvert-Lewin impresses

A master in the air. Dominic Calvert Lewin dominated the airspace inside Etihad Stadium. He also scored a headed goal.

Marco Silva changed his formation from the last Premier League game against Watford and introduced 21-year-old Calvert-Lewin in the #9 position. Richarlison continued to start in the wings for the Toffees.

At the Etihad Stadium though, while we expected Richarlison to be the key man for the Toffees, he wasn't their best player on the afternoon. He had an early chance to put Everton ahead but he wasted it, a difficult volley. But he continued in the same manner in the whole game. Took only three shots with none on target while wasting a second-half chance from the edge of the box. The Brazilian's first touch let him down on some moments and he is yet to score against the supposed top 6.

Calvert-Lewin though exceeded expectations. The young English forward scored the only goal for the Toffees in the afternoon. He looked energetic on the pitch, showed confidence while on the ball and showcased his excellent aerial prowess. He won a stunning 5 aerial duels; only Aymeric Laporte won more duels than him in the whole game.

Everton will hope that their young Brazilian find returns to form sooner than later and that their young English forward continues in the same manner.

#3 Aymeric Laporte sends a message to Didier Deschamps, not for the first time

What more can he do to play for his nation? Laporte did what he always does, drop a stellar defensive performance. Hope Deschamps was watching.

The French defender looked solid on the afternoon. That is not a new thing though. In every game that he plays, he looks solid and focused. A few days ago, Laporte expressed his disappointment of not being able to represent the national side. He went on to state that the French coach must have personal rather than professional reasons to snub him.

In the Nations League due to Umtiti's absence, many expected Laporte to start alongside Varane but Deschamps went with Kimpembe instead. Laporte oozes the class that is required to play in a Champion team. He has more than just justified his price tag. He might not be the big and sturdy centre-back character but he has the strength and composure.

Against Everton, it was business as usual for the Frenchman. Looked really calm and composed on the ball, waded into the midfield, kept his rigidity at the back and put on an altogether impressive defensive display. Even more, he made two key passes, won six aerial battles and two tackles. He nullified Sigurdsson and Andre Gomes in the middle.

What more does he need to do to play for his nation?

#2 Gabriel Jesus returns to scoring ways while Sane retains his impressive form

This duo is deadly as they come. Jesus and Sane combined for the first two goals, both scored by Jesus and assisted by Sane.

If Aymeric Laporte held together his back line, then Sane and Jesus were busy disturbing the defensive line of the Toffees. While they had problems finding the net till Yerry Mina gifted them the time and space required, their neat one-two passing was troubling the defense.

Coming off a brilliant night against Hoffenheim, Leroy Sane continued where he left off in Europe. He showed his pace from the starting minute, pressed down on the defenders and provided the exceptional pass for Jesus' first goal. In the second half, the pair combined again to double the lead. Sane delivered the perfect pin-point cross for Jesus to head home.

Gabriel Jesus has scored in the Premier League for the first time in over a year and they his goals have come at a time when he needs it the most. With Sergio Aguero returning from injury, Jesus has to show his coach something to retain his spot in the team. In addition, Jesus also won a tackle and two aerial battles.

The German will surely continue to start in the team but it remains to be seen whether Jesus holds his spot. Anyway, Jesus managed to break his goalscoring duck which would be a big relief in itself.

#1 Pep Guardiola will play his brand of football, no matter what

He only knows one way of playing but that is the best way for him. Guardiola won't shy away from possession football.

There have been questions raised on the brand of football that Guardiola introduces. Being a part of Cruyff's dream team, Guardiola has learned to see the game with a perspective that a very few can. When he came to Manchester City, a lot of people and pundits challenged him to play possession football in England. Many claimed that he won't win 5-0 and 6-0 against teams like Southampton.

But fast forward two seasons, Pep is doing exactly what people predicted would be unsuccessful. Play possession football and win. He has gone to Fulham, Southampton or anywhere else and won by big margins with the same style.

Last week, when he came up against a tactically brilliant coach in Maurizio Sarri, his team lost. Sarri showed one way that the possession-based style could be defeated. He locked his defenses down and hit City on the few opportunities that were created. There were people who claimed that his brand of football needs to change as others had found the flaws in it. The same happened when City drew with Liverpool, endless passing was criticized.

Today again, Everton locked their defenses down to counter possession play and was successful to some extent. But Pep stuck to his style yet again even after an underwhelming first half. City came out with the same style with more intent to win the game. Nobody could teach possession football better than this man and nobody could play it better either. The flaws of the team might have been exposed here and there but there is nothing wrong with the style.

Guardiola will not be coaxed into changing his brand of football, neither by the fans nor by the English media, especially when he has forced the English national team to play the way he taught them.