Erling Haaland saw his second-half penalty saved by Jordan Pickford as Manchester City’s ongoing slump persisted with a hard-fought Premier League draw against Everton at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side, once dominant, finds itself in unfamiliar territory, having secured just one win in their last 13 matches across all competitions.
The result leaves the reigning champions sixth in the Premier League standings, three points behind fourth-placed Nottingham Forest and 11 adrift of league leaders Liverpool, both of whom still have matches to play.
City came close to a dream start when Josko Gvardiol’s towering header struck the post in the third minute. Their breakthrough came soon after in the 14th minute, with Bernardo Silva’s deflected strike finding the far corner following a pass from Jeremy Doku.
The hosts missed a chance to double their lead when Phil Foden set up Silva, who fired wide. Everton capitalized in the 36th minute as Iliman Ndiaye skillfully converted Abdoulaye Doucoure’s cross with a sublime finish into the far corner.
City had a golden opportunity to reclaim the lead early in the second half when Vitalii Mykolenko fouled Savinho in the box, but Pickford denied Haaland’s penalty attempt with a well-timed dive. Despite relentless pressure, City failed to breach Everton’s defense and extended their winless run, with their last victory dating back to December 4 against Nottingham Forest.
Man City’s Alarming Decline
Guardiola, who guided City to a historic treble in 2023, now faces an uphill battle just to keep the club in contention for a top-four finish. Their current form, marked by a sluggish attack and defensive lapses, has made City vulnerable to opponents like Everton.
Silva’s early goal showcased glimpses of their previous sharpness, but a failure to capitalize on opportunities—such as Silva’s missed chance and Haaland’s penalty miss—proved costly. Guardiola introduced Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan in the second half, but their efforts fell short, leaving City fans frustrated at full-time as boos echoed around the Etihad.
City’s Champions League qualification streak of 14 consecutive seasons now faces a genuine threat, with just five points earned since November.
Everton: A Draw to Build On
For Everton, the result highlights both resilience and missed opportunities. Sean Dyche’s side, having drawn with Arsenal and Chelsea recently, extended their strong defensive form despite conceding early.
Iliman Ndiaye’s stunning equalizer provided a moment of brilliance for Everton, while Orel Mangala nearly snatched a late winner with a deflected strike that narrowly missed.
Everton remain 15th in the league, five points clear of the relegation zone. Though they’ve lost only two of their last 13 league matches, their lack of wins—just three from 17 games—continues to weigh heavily. Still, the traveling supporters will take heart in their team’s ability to compete against the Premier League’s elite, even as their winless streak against City stretches to 16 matches.