Haaland saved a penalty in a boring draw
Manchester City failed to win again as the Premier League champions faced Everton at home.
Erling Haaland had the chance to give Pep Guardiola’s side the win they needed, but his second-half penalty was saved by England number one Jordan Pickford.
City took the lead when Bernardo Silva saw a shot deflect over goal and past Pickford.
But Iliman Ndiaye brought Everton level again with a great shot across goal with the outside of his boot.
Jordan Pickford before saving Erling Haaland’s penalty… 🤪#MCIEVE pic.twitter.com/RhlDwCgTmZ
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 26, 2024
City were awarded the penalty in the second half when Savinho was brought down by Vitalii Mykolenko, but Haaland’s tame effort was well parried by Pickford.
City have now won one of their last 13 games across all competitions and sit sixth in the table.
They have dropped 26 points in the league – already more than they lost in all of last season – and would need to win all their remaining games to match last season’s tally of 28 league wins.
Everton are at it again
It was another respectable result for Sean Dyche’s side after stalemates against Arsenal and Chelsea in their previous two games.
After Silva’s strange opener, Everton were undeterred and warned after a couple of half-chances when Orel Mangala shot just over from Ndiaye’s free-kick. Idrissa Gueye also shot at Stefan Ortega from a distance.
When Manuel Akanji missed the chance to clear Abdoulaye Doucoure’s cross, Ndiaye stayed in space and fired a half-volley into the net.
City appeared to be energized again after the break and Savinho was denied by Pickford’s foot before Mateo Kovacic shot wide.
They then had a golden opportunity to take the lead again when Vitalii Mykolenko beat Savinho just inside the penalty area with a late foul.
Everton captain Seamus Coleman, making his first start since August, was booked for delaying Haaland as he prepared to take the penalty.
He may have felt his antics had paid off when Haaland scored a poor penalty and Pickford parried to his right.
