Guardiola to Unleash Haaland Alvarez Pair After City Drew Everton

• Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has hinted at his next step after their draw with Everton
• The Toffees came back through Demarai Gray after Erling Haaland had put the Citizens ahead
• World Cup winner Julian Alvarez was in action and Pep has hinted giving him more minutes

Manchester City sunk further in their title defence after a frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Everton, which saw Arsenal go seven points clear at the top of the table.

Pep Guardiola's men went ahead in the first half through Erling Haaland, who scored his 21st league goal of the 2022/23 Premier League season, but it was not enough as Demarai Gray struck back for Everton in the second half.

Argentina's World Cup winning striker, Julian Alvarez was on the pitch for 13 minutes in the final stages and paired Haaland - a partnership Guardiola has said would be utilised more often to break down stubborn defence.

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A Haaland-Alvarez partnership soon?

City struggled to break down the Everton defence and the boss threw in Alvarez, who scored four goals at the World Cup as noted by FIFA, but his pairing with Haaland up top was too late to produce the goods.

The former Barcelona boss revealed after the game that the Argentine's involvement was limited due to his participation at the World Cup, speaking to Man City's official website.

“In the last minutes [against Everton], we need people with a sense of goal, to go to the box… He [Alvarez] rested a week or 10 days; it's not much after the World Cup final."

The Spanish manager also pinpointed creativity as a reason not to have not multiple strikers on the pitch, but admitted this may be required more often against strong defensive teams - particularly those with five defenders.

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“We have two strikers to score goals, but to create these chances, you have to make the process. And in the process, sometimes you need other types of players to create these chances. But of course, they can play together, especially against five at the back - that can happen.”

Guardiola predicted Argentina's victory

Sports Brief earlier reported on Alvarez being picked by Guardiola as the Manchester City player with the best chance of winning the World Cup.

The prediction was largely influenced by the Spanish boss's love for his former star Lionel Messi, whom Guardiola worked with at Barcelona for four years in his first senior managerial position.

Alvarez and Messi formed a devastating attacking partnership, in particular tearing Croatia apart in the semi-final where the youngster scored twice.