Manchester City’s alarming decline showed no signs of abating as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Everton side, further denting their Premier League campaign.
Erling Haaland’s second-half penalty miss proved costly for the defending champions, who have now managed just one win in their last 13 matches across all competitions.
City started brightly, with Josko Gvardiol heading against the post in the opening minutes. Bernardo Silva broke the deadlock in the 14th minute with a deflected effort off Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, giving the home side the lead.
Despite their dominance, Silva squandered a golden opportunity to double the advantage, and the miss came back to haunt City.
The Toffees found an equalizer through Iliman Ndiaye, who capitalized on Manuel Akanji’s defensive error to unleash a stunning strike into the top corner, marking Everton’s first away goal in over two months.
Jordan Pickford’s heroics in goal kept Everton in the game, notably saving Haaland’s penalty early in the second half. Vitaliy Mykolenko’s foul on Savinho had handed City a lifeline, but Haaland’s tame effort reflected his ongoing struggle, with just one goal in his last seven appearances.
City pressed for a winner, but Everton held firm. In stoppage time, Jack Harrison’s blocked shot denied Everton a chance to snatch a shock victory during a dangerous counterattack.
The draw sees City climb to sixth in the table but risks falling further behind the top four, potentially ending their 15-year streak of Champions League qualification. Everton, meanwhile, edged five points clear of the relegation zone, sitting in 15th.
Pep Guardiola admitted before the game that City’s place in next season’s Champions League is under threat. "We’re at risk, definitely,” he conceded. Their reliance on Haaland, who has played every minute of the Premier League season, underscores the team’s struggles.
With pressure mounting and their form faltering, Manchester City must regroup quickly to salvage their season. Everton, on the other hand, will take confidence from a hard-fought point as they look to climb further away from the drop zone.
Key Stats:
- Goals: Bernardo Silva (14’), Iliman Ndiaye (39’)
- Missed Penalty: Erling Haaland (52’)
- League Standings: City 6th, Everton 15th
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