Everton, playing away, were getting anxious after conceding consecutive goals.

Was Manchester City truly unstoppable now?

Was Zhao Gang, the best passer, able to so easily crush opponents by not receiving the ball, not organizing, but just standing at the front waiting for the easy goal?

Everton's players had been passively defending, their defensive line stretched by Sterling and Zhao Gang, resulting in weak attacks. Plus, Gündoğan and Fernandinho's midfield interceptions, along with Zhao Gang and Sterling's constant harassment in the front, made it difficult for Everton to transition the ball smoothly from the back to the front.

However, Manchester City couldn't maintain that high-pressure approach indefinitely.

Forty minutes into the game, Everton's players finally had a chance to breathe.

With a two-goal lead, Manchester City relaxed their pressing.

This allowed Everton's players to organize their offense, able to hold the ball in midfield.

They stopped kicking long balls to Lukaku and were able to successfully move the ball across the midfield, starting some organized attacks.

Everton's formation slowly advanced, steadily trying to control the ball and not waste any attacking opportunities.

Lukaku called for the ball on the wing, and his teammate immediately passed it to him.

Center forward Lukaku's favorite move was to cut inside, burst past his marker, and cross.

With his size, speed, and age, it was difficult for anyone in the Premier League to defend against him.

Lukaku quickly accelerated, and Stones in the center quickly moved to the wing to block Lukaku's passing route.

Trapped in the double-team, Lukaku couldn't see his teammates. Just as he was about to pass back, he saw the blue jersey of Fernandinho. With no other choice, Lukaku gritted his teeth and squeezed hard, another burst taking him directly to the byline.

A cutback!

A cross into the box! Bang!

Where… where are my teammates??

Lukaku's cutback pass was missed by Stones' outstretched leg.

Otamendi, near the penalty spot, kicked the ball out of the penalty area.

Lukaku frowned, thinking about the opponent’s center backs versus their own, who didn’t even know how to clear the ball from the penalty area.

Two guys sandwiched the ball, letting someone kick it in.

"That cutback was quite dangerous. Cleverly and Koné didn't get to the ball, allowing Otamendi to clear it early. Otherwise, it could have been a high-quality shot.

Lukaku is a big threat; he's really hard to defend!"

Otamendi kicked the ball out, but Everton still had possession.

Seeing an opportunity, Lukaku ran all the way from the byline back into the penalty area, pushing Otamendi aside!

Full of power.

Barry on the outside seized the opportunity and lobbed the ball into the penalty area!

Lukaku stood inside, rising high, heading the ball with all his might.

"Lukaku's header!!"

Manchester City fans stood up nervously. Lukaku was fierce. Manchester City's defenders lacked height and strength in front of him.

Aerial defense was a weakness for Manchester City.

Unfortunately, the header was too straight and was caught by Bravo.

"Too straight, a pass from Bravo!"

Bravo didn't hesitate and threw the ball out.

Usually, he would look for Zhao Gang, but today Zhao Gang was positioned as a center forward. Seeing a counterattack opportunity, he had already run ahead.

However, Silva was behind.

Bravo passed the ball to Silva, who was half-turned.

Silva ran a few steps with the ball, and when a defender approached, he threaded a through ball to Zhao Gang, who had surged forward but then retreated to receive the ball.

Everton's defense hadn't stabilized, and they rushed towards Zhao Gang again, trying to stop him from continuing to break forward.

Zhao Gang took two steps, and a defender blocked his path.

"Everton's defense is the same as before, and it's not the first time! They've completely left Sterling open! How can Zhao not see this opportunity! I beg you, don't leave anyone unmarked!" Everton's commentator was almost crying.

Sterling was running up again on that side.

Zhao Gang's pass was extremely fast, and the defender didn't have time to react. It went straight through the gap between them!

The ball led Sterling's run!

Sterling hardly needed to adjust. He took two steps forward and shot!

"Sterling's shot from a narrow angle, oh, unfortunately, it was saved by Howard!"

Howard, with extreme concentration, punched the ball out with both hands, and it flew towards the center.

The center was a chaotic scene. Everton's two center backs and Zhao Gang rushed towards it!

However, the two center backs had been watching Sterling's shot and only started running back after seeing the ball being saved, while Zhao Gang had already started running when Sterling shot.

Regardless of whether Sterling's shot went in, or was saved for a corner, or didn't even bounce to where Zhao Gang was running, Zhao Gang would have run in vain.

But, Zhao Gang's position was center forward, and his biggest task was to score goals, to seize opportunities!

Leading the two center backs, Zhao Gang was only one step ahead, but the two center backs couldn't do anything about it.

The flying ball was met by Zhao Gang, who kicked it into the goal!

The two Everton center backs who had been chasing back supported their knees, lowered their heads, and gasped for breath.

This guy was too good at judging where the ball would land!

In reality, Zhao Gang was only one step ahead. He didn't know the ball would be punched out, let alone predict where it would land.

But he just rushed over!

You could say it was luck!

But luck is always for those who are prepared!

"3:0! Zhao Gang's rebound in front of the goal! He wasn't offside. Although he was one step ahead of the center backs, he was still behind when Sterling shot! After the ball was punched out, he was already at the front!

Probably any professional player could kick that ball into the goal, but you absolutely need a top striker to create that kind of opportunity!"

Indeed, many goals look easy, even ordinary, but the shooting opportunity before the goal is the hardest to seize!

"Two goals. This game is the one where Zhao has the least amount of touches in the Premier League. Even less than Fernandinho and Otamendi!

His position means he hardly participates in the team's passing, but he is still Manchester City's most dangerous player!

Almost all of Manchester City's dangerous attacks are initiated or finished by him!

This is the adaptability of a top star!

Yes, he's not an ordinary player, nor is he a good professional player, he's the top star!

As long as he's on the field, even if he's standing on his own goal line, the opponent can't ignore him. Just one mistake, and he can make the opponent pay a heavy price!

Zhao! Zhao from Long Country!!!"

Sterling ran to Zhao Gang and expressed his gratitude.

Because Sterling hadn't started for a long time and wasn't in his best form, Zhao Gang still chose to trust him several times, passing the ball to him.

This trust made Sterling very grateful.

In this game, Zhao Gang and De Bruyne didn't coordinate much, but instead repeatedly looked for Sterling on the wing.

Zhao Gang helping Sterling find his form was one reason, but the bigger reason was that when Zhao Gang had the ball, he was already in a dangerous area, and passing to Sterling's run was the best choice.

Zhao Gang himself was Manchester City's best passer, so why go the long way, passing to De Bruyne, and then letting De Bruyne organize the attack?

Sterling's runs were top-notch, and Zhao Gang in the center was different from Zhao Gang on the wing. He could find Sterling faster and more discreetly.

No need for a transition in the middle.

Guardiola standing on the sidelines nodded, he certainly saw this more clearly.

He had wanted to try this style of play for a long time, so he had Aguero and Zhao Gang frequently switch positions before.

However, Aguero's impact on the wing was a bit worse than Sterling's, and the effect wasn't as good as he had imagined.

Now, with Sterling, the effect was much better.

Even if the opponent could easily see this simple tactic, it was still quite difficult to defend against.

Although Zhao Gang's aerial duels in the center forward position were almost non-existent,

his support, breakthrough, and passing were simply miraculous.

Without needing too many touches, using his runs, once the ball reached his feet, it was a dangerous signal!

More chilling to opponents than when he received the ball in his previous position.

Guardiola stroked his chin, thinking that perhaps finding two more young players with stronger impact in the front midfield would make Manchester City's style of play more varied.

Now he had to scout new candidates.

Next season, Manchester City would become even more impeccable!

Guardiola was no longer in the mood to continue watching. Everton's previously arranged defense was completely ruined because of Zhao Gang's advanced position. Everton had no chance in this game.

The next game, away against Real Madrid, was what Guardiola should be thinking about.