Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge took a devastating blow on Monday night as they were held to a stunning 3-3 draw at Everton — throwing away a first-half lead, conceding three goals in thirteen second-half minutes, and ultimately limping away with a single point that may prove far too little, far too late.
City had looked in complete control when Doku opened the scoring on 43 minutes, converting a Rayan Cherki assist to give Guardiola’s side a deserved half-time lead. A routine away win appeared to be in the making. The second half told an entirely different story.
Everton equalised through Thierno Barry on 68 minutes, and five minutes later Jake O’Brien headed the hosts in front from a James Garner delivery. When Barry completed his brace on 81 minutes, Everton were 3-1 up and the game looked done. City scrambled back through Haaland on 83 minutes before Doku’s stunning long-range effort deep into stoppage time made it 3-3 — but the damage to their title ambitions was already severe.
Arsenal sit five points clear at the top with one game more played. Had City won, the gap would have been just two points with a game in hand — a genuinely uncomfortable position for the Gunners. Instead City closed it by just one, and Arsenal will now go into their remaining fixtures with one hand firmly on the trophy.
City have four games remaining against Brentford, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Aston Villa, and must win all of them while hoping Arsenal slip up. On a night when they could not hold on against a mid-table Everton side after leading at half-time, that now feels like a very big ask.
