Erling Haaland’s missed penalty proved costly as Manchester City was held to a 1-1 draw by Everton in a Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday.
The Norwegian striker had an opportunity to steer the four-time defending champions toward a much-needed victory when awarded a penalty in the 53rd minute. However, Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford thwarted Haaland’s effort, leaving City’s struggles to continue.
City’s recent form has been concerning, with Pep Guardiola’s side now recording just one win in their last 13 games across all competitions. The draw added only a fifth league point to their tally since late October, further highlighting their disappointing run.
The match started on a promising note for City, as Bernardo Silva’s deflected strike found the net in the 14th minute, securing an early lead. However, Everton equalized through Iliman Ndiaye’s composed finish in the 36th minute, ensuring the visitors left with a share of the points.
With this result, Manchester City remains sixth in the Premier League standings, 11 points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, despite having played two more matches.
Haaland’s struggles in front of goal continue to draw attention, with the forward managing only one goal in his last seven appearances. Although he found the back of the net from a rebound following his missed penalty, the effort was ruled out for offside, adding to City’s frustrations.
The dropped points further loosen City’s grip on the title as Liverpool, who faced Leicester in a later match, had the chance to widen their lead at the top of the table.
