Manchester City’s troubling form persisted on Boxing Day as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton at the Etihad Stadium, with Erling Haaland missing a crucial second-half penalty.
Bernardo Silva gave City an early lead in the 14th minute, but Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye equalized with a stunning finish, extending City’s winless run to 12 games across all competitions.
The draw leaves the reigning Premier League champions in sixth place, potentially five points adrift of the top four by the end of the day. Meanwhile, Everton, now in 15th place, moved five points clear of the relegation zone.
City boss Pep Guardiola admitted the risk of failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 15 years, stating, “Now we are at risk, of course we are. Definitely.”
City missed several key opportunities to secure a win, including Haaland’s penalty in the 52nd minute, which was saved by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Haaland’s offside goal shortly afterward and his continued goal drought—now four games at the Etihad—reflect City’s growing struggles.
The defending champions remain overly reliant on Haaland, who has played every Premier League minute this season but has only one goal in his last seven matches. Guardiola has pointed out that Haaland’s dry spell alone cannot explain the team’s broader collapse.
Everton nearly secured an upset in stoppage time when Jack Harrison’s shot was blocked during a four-on-two counter-attack. The Toffees, however, settled for a valuable point.
City will need to regroup quickly to salvage their season, with Guardiola urging his side to rediscover their attacking rhythm and consistency as they face mounting pressure.
