MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 EVERTON: Bernardo Silva put the hosts ahead before they were pegged back by Iliman Ndiaye with Erling Haaland missing a golden opportunity to win the game from the penalty spot
MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 EVERTON: Bernardo Silva put the hosts ahead before they were pegged back by Iliman Ndiaye with Erling Haaland missing a golden opportunity to win the game from the penalty spot MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 EVERTON: Bernardo Silva put the hosts ahead before they were pegged back by Iliman Ndiaye with Erling Haaland missing a golden opportunity to win the game from the penalty spot
Manchester City’s winless run was extended as Christmas bought no cheer for Pep Guardiola – who saw his side held by Everton.
Boxing Day’s opening game presented the troubled champion outfit with a chance to return the winning ways they were once so used to, but instead they were left to wonder just what is going wrong.
Bernardo Silva opened the scoring after an early period of dominance for the hosts as his scuffed shot from an acute angle found itself way past Jordan Pickford into the bottom corner. The Portuguese star then spurned a clear-cut chance as he shot wide.
Everton’s chances were few and far between – as was to be expected – but when a cross evaded two City defender it found its way to Iliman Ndiaye – who controlled and shot almost in one motion to fire into the top corner – silencing the Etihad.
The home fans have become all too accustomed to the feeling of deja vu in recent months. City had seen their lead evaporate but must’ve thought it was likely to return when Erling Haaland stepped up from 12 yards following a foul on Savinho.
Pickford though enjoyed a huge win in his personal battle with the Norwegian, getting down low to his right to save before Haaland’s headed rebound was ruled out for offside.
Here’s the lowdown from the Etihad as City are denied again.
1. A familiar feeling with City
Once upon a time when City took the lead you all but switched off. Their ability to manage the game through possession meant their opponents probably won’t going to get a sniff at an equaliser and it looked far more likely that Guardiola’s team would extend their advantage.
Nowadays its the complete opposite. Their opener was deserved, but it did little to quash the nervousness around the Etihad. It was much the same against Manchester United, who remained in the game even when City took the lead before eventually coming back. The poor run of form has certain transcended into the stands and the dugout, with a game never feeling safe and opposition teams always feel as if they have a chance.
2. Haaland remains limited
The Norwegian has never pretended to be a striker in the Harry Kane mould – the type who would drop deep and could deputise as a No 10. He is very much a No 9 throwback and will continue to make runs in behind – and that worked when City were at their best and continuously finding him.
Now, without De Bruyne playing, and with a host of their top players nowhere near top form, Haaland is finding it hard to involve himself in games. The striker’s brilliance was hugely aided by the brilliance around him – and teams playing with a low defensive block only makes things more problematic.
His penalty miss after 50 minutes perhaps summed up where he – and City – are at.
3. Everton show battling qualities
Everton’s recent form guide doesn’t boast a host of wins, but it isn’t littered with defeats either. Since mid-Septmeber Dyche has seen his team lose just twice. However they’ve also won just three times in that period with seven draws thrown in.
They dug in to hold Chelsea and Arsenal recently and doing so again against City, even if they are weakened, represents a good return in recent weeks. Crucially for Everton their wins have come against those around them, seeing off Crystal Palace, Ipswich and Wolves. As ever with a Dyche side, they’re hard to beat, and they will continue to stand them in good stead despite their proximity to the bottom three.
4. What is success for Pep and City?
It would go down as the greatest rescue mission in Premier League history if City were to retain their crown, but plenty including some of those on the blue half of Manchester have written off their chances of doing five in a row.
Guardiola has now cast doubt over whether City can quality for the Champions League – something they haven’t failed to do in well over a decade. That really would represent a mammoth fall from grace for the, seemingly outgoing, champions.
As they continue to look a shadow of themselves you get the impression that Guardiola would certainly take a top four spot and a trophy to salvage what is looking like the worst season of his reign. Champions League progression this year is far from guaranteed with City being asked more questions than they’re used to.
5. De Bruyne still overlooked
He might be City’s greatest ever player but in their biggest slump in nearly two decades Guardiola isn’t turning to his Belgian maestro to solve his problems. De Bruyne has carried this team at times, but he’s been left watching on from the bench in recent weeks.
Guardiola recently cited his age, he’s now 33, and a recent injury as reasons for him managing his minutes. Against Villa just days ago he was left on the bench for the entirety of the 90 minutes and he was again left on the bench until the final 15 minutes.
Much has been made of this ageing City side and you wonder whether, amid the need to regenerate this team, De Bruyne will become a more peripheral figure.
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Mirror – Sport
