Erling Haaland’s missed penalty in the second half was a pivotal moment as Manchester City were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Everton at the Etihad Stadium on Boxing Day, extending their difficult run in the Premier League.
City took the lead early in the match through Bernardo Silva, who netted in the 14th minute.
Silva’s shot, a deflected effort from a tight angle after receiving a through-ball from Jeremy Doku, looped beyond Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford after taking a deflection off Jarrad Branthwaite.
However, City’s joy was short-lived, as Everton responded with a quick equaliser in the 36th minute. Iliman Ndiaye latched onto a cross from Abdoulaye Doucoure, firing a half-volley into the roof of the net to level the scores.
The game saw City dominate possession early on, with opportunities coming thick and fast. Josko Gvardiol came close to scoring just three minutes into the match, heading against the post from a corner.
Silva then had another chance to double City’s lead, but he missed the target after receiving a fine pass from Phil Foden and attempting to bend the ball into the top corner with the outside of his boot.
Everton, despite being under pressure for large parts of the game, were dangerous on the counter-attack and had a few half-chances. Orel Mangala and Idrissa Gueye both tested City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega with shots from distance.
The equaliser came from a quick counter-attack, with Doucoure’s cross evading City’s defenders, and Ndiaye seized the opportunity, smashing the ball into the net.
After the break, City looked more determined, with Savinho having his effort saved by Pickford and Mateo Kovacic firing wide. City were gifted a golden opportunity to retake the lead when Vitalii Mykolenko fouled Savinho inside the area, resulting in a penalty for the hosts.
Haaland, the team’s usual penalty taker, stepped up to the spot, but his attempt was poorly executed and easily saved by Pickford, diving to his right.
The rebound was quickly headed across goal by Gvardiol, and Haaland had another chance to score, but his header was ruled offside by the linesman, leaving the hosts even more frustrated.
City struggled to create clear-cut chances as Everton defended resolutely, with captain Seamus Coleman, making his first start since August, playing a key role in the defence.
The frustration continued to mount for City as a number of their attacking moves broke down. As the game wore on, the visitors nearly capitalised on City’s anxiety, with Doucoure volleying wide and Mangala’s effort deflected across goal.
Guardiola turned to Kevin De Bruyne in the hopes of injecting some creativity into the attack, but Everton’s defence remained solid, and the Belgian was unable to make an impact.
In stoppage time, Jack Harrison nearly gave Everton an unexpected victory, but his shot lacked conviction and was blocked, ensuring that the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
The result is a further blow to City’s hopes of defending their Premier League title, with key players missing from the lineup due to injuries.
Rodri, Ederson, and Ruben Dias were already sidelined, and on top of that, John Stones, Jack Grealish, and Kyle Walker joined the injury list in recent days.
The absences left the bench looking inexperienced, with four teenagers and a 20-year-old among the substitutes.
Everton, meanwhile, continue to show resilience under manager Sean Dyche. The Toffees have now taken points off top teams, including Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City, in consecutive games, showcasing their defensive organization and ability to frustrate stronger sides.
For Guardiola’s City, the pressure continues to build, as they failed to secure all three points despite a dominant performance in terms of possession and attempts.
With the injuries piling up, the manager will be hoping for a quick turnaround as they look to get back to winning ways in the league.
