Manchester City v Everton player ratings: Rodri 9, Sterling 8; Godfrey 7, Richarlison 4

Guardiola's side stroll to 3-0 victory at Etihad Stadium to keep pressure on Chelsea at top of Premier League

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 7: A spectator in first half until injury-time free-kick hit straight into his arms by Townsend. More of same after break until the Brazilian called upon to block Coleman attempt from point-blank range. EPA

Kyle Walker - 7: Looked like he might have his hands full dealing with the tricky Gray only for Everton attacker to limp off after 15 minutes. Good recovery challenge to stop Iwobi getting through on goal. EPA

John Stones - 7: England centre-half strolled through game with Everton’s attacking threat virtually non-existent. AFP

Aymeric Laporte - 7: Booked in first-half injury-time for cynical foul on Townsend but there was little danger of a second yellow with Everton showing little attacking intent. Solid return to team for Spain defender. Getty

Joao Cancelo - 8: Absolutely glorious ball with outside of right boot to find Sterling for opening goal. You will struggle to see a better pass all season. AFP

Ilkay Gundogan - 7: Headed on to top of crossbar after Pickford saved from Silva in first half. Neat and tidy performance from the German who never wasted a pass. AFP

Rodri - 9: Dominated centre of midfield, breaking up Everton attacks at will and made it 2-0 with thunderbolt strike into top corner from outside the penalty area. PA

Bernardo Silva - 8: In-form Portuguese denied first-half goal by legs of Pickford when through one-on-one. Could have had second-half penalty from Keane challenge but his delayed reaction before hitting deck made referee decide against it. Side-footed home City’s third with five minutes left. AP

Cole Palmer - 7: Teenager in first Premier League start almost grabbed early goal but couldn’t get decent touch on Cancelo cross-shot into box. One perfect pass into feet of Silva that Portuguese failed to finish in first half. His deflected shot led to Silva goal. AFP

Phil Foden - 7: Headed chance over bar from Sterling cross. One sumptuous piece of control on left flank had City fans on their feet in first half. Usual quality from England attacker and City were able to rest him before the hour mark with Messi and PSG coming midweek. AFP

Raheem Sterling - 8: Skipped past Digne and clipped over fine cross that Foden headed over early on. Lovely first-time finish on 300th Premier League game just before break from even better Cancelo ball. Should have had second but made hash of Mahrez cross. EPA

SUBS: Riyad Mahrez – (On for Foden 58’) 7: Perfect ball across box that should have resulted in Sterling making it 3-0. AFP

Nathan Ake – (On for Laporte 75’) 6: Defender not put under any pressure in comfortable cameo. AP

James McAtee – (On for Palmer 87’) N/A: Making Premier League debut at 18 and drilled one shot into side netting. Looks like another one off the conveyor belt showing off trademark City quick feet. PA

EVERTON RATINGS: Jordan Pickford - 6: Suspect kicking and handling in opening 20 minutes but alive to make important - if comfortable - saves from Silva and Gordon. No chance with City goals – especially first two, which were stunners. EPA

Seamus Coleman - 6: Struggled to keep up with movement of Foden who can be unplayable at full flow. Can never fault Irishman’s effort and determination up against wave after wave of City attacks. Getty

Ben Godfrey - 7: Some timely interceptions as City probed for opening goal and did well generally against the usual dizzying movement and passing of Pep Guardiola’s team. PA

Michael Keane - 6: Relieved when referee reversed penalty call for his challenge on Sterling. Could have conceded a spot kick after break after clipping Silva in the box. Taken out of game by Cancelo wonder pass before Sterling goal. EPA

Lucas Digne - 7: Left-back was skinned by Sterling after 12 minutes and it was a fascinating battle between the pair. French left-back then up against another dangerman in Mahrez after break – and only once did the Algerian get the better of him. EPA

Allan - 6: Sat very deep in midfield as City dominated possession with the Brazilian harassing and harrying as best he could. Gave away comical corner just after break with swing and a miss before ball went out via none-kicking foot. Getty

Fabian Delph - 6: Chasing shadows against former club and arguably should have been quicker closing down Rodri before the City man’s stunning strike. Ran himself into ground and was given warm reception from both sets of fans when taken off in second half. Reuters

Demarai Gray - 6: Pulled muscle running at Walker after quarter of an hour that saw him limp off and cut short his afternoon at the Etihad. Another injury blow for Everton. PA

Andros Townsend - 6: Had Everton’s first shot on target at end of first half – but free-kick was straight at Ederson. Never really had run at City defence until second period and at least then started giving City something to think about. AFP

Anthony Gordon - 4: Bad touch on edge of box gifted ball to City that almost saw Palmer open scoring. Little impact from Everton’s promising winger who got little joy out of the City defence. EPA

Richarlison - 4: Booked after half an hour for reckless foul on Walker that will see Brazilian suspended for next game. Challenge came from frustration as attacker was feeding off scraps. Missed ball completely with one acrobatic attempt in second half. AP

SUBS: Alex Iwobi – (On for Gray 17’) 5: A couple of terrible passes out of defence straight to City feet soon after coming on. Found a bit of space on right in second half but his crosses into box came to nothing. AFP

Salomon Rondon – (On for Delph 63’) 5: Tidy enough and at least held the ball up but not a sniff of goal opportunity for striker who is yet to make mark at Everton. Reuters Tyler Onyango – (On for Allan 90’) N/A. Another making his Premier League debut.

Manchester City coasted to a 3-0 victory over Everton in the Premier League on Sunday, taking them back to within three points of leaders Chelsea.

Raheem Sterling — making his 300th top-flight appearance — opened the scoring just before half-time with a fine first-time finish following a sensational pass from Joao Cancelo.

The lead was doubled 10 minutes into the second half when Rodri blasted a stunning strike into the top corner from outside the penalty area, before the in-form Bernardo Silva slotted home the third and final goal four minutes from time.

“We gave rhythm into our game, they defended really well, so deep, [playing] on the counter-attack. In general we controlled the game. We played the game we should play to beat teams like Everton,” City manager Pep Guardiola said.

“When one team comes just to defend it is always going to be difficult and you have to be careful. The quality of the players we have made the difference.”

It was another miserable day for Rafael Benitez's side — who suffered another injury blow when Demarai Gray limped off early in the game — although the outclassed Merseysiders can draw some comfort from the fact that the margin of defeat was not greater. They are without a win in six games and sit 11th in the table on 15 points.

City's next game is against Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday, while Everton face Brentford next Sunday.

You can see the player ratings from the game at Etihad Stadium in the gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.