Everton’s draw could be a blow to Man City in the Premier League title race

LIVERPOOL, England – After months of controversy Premier League The title will be won in London or Manchester, the trophy may be destined for Merseyside.

for weeks, Manchester City Seemed to be the climbing team. But the pendulum has swung dramatically ArsenalPep Guardiola’s side are in favor after an impressive performance 3-3 draw with Everton Monday at Hill Dickinson Stadium. It was a game that City had won and then conspired to lose, before Jeremy DocIts stunning strike in stoppage time saved a point that could yet prove decisive when a new champion is crowned in just a few weeks’ time.

Arsenal’s emphatic win Fulham The margin for error was non-existent for Mane City at the weekend as they finished with the first of their two games in hand. When Doku curled in a superb opener on the stroke of half-time, Guardiola’s men were determined to close the gap to six points to three.

But the second-half capitulation means City are now outsiders to win the league for a seventh time in nine years. Opta give Arsenal an 85.2% chance of ending their 22-year title drought this term.

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It was only a few weeks ago that a Manchester City supporter went viral for holding an Arsenal-branded bottle in the away end during his team’s win. ChelseaThe former title is designed to illustrate the propensity of gunners to “bottle” the race. However, against Everton, City showed they are not immune to the increased pressure of the run-in. Guardiola’s side conceded three goals in the space of 13 chaotic second-half minutes that could define their season.

First the city center back Mark GuehyThe loose pass goes back to the goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma Everton are hampered by substitutes Thierno Barrywhose goal was awarded after a VAR check. It was City’s second error in three games, after making just three errors leading to goals in the first 31 games of the season.

the defender Jake O’Brien Adding to City’s frustration when he rose maximum to nod home from one James Garner In the corner, before Marilyn Rohl Beating Barry for Everton’s third goal. Look a thousand yards Erling Haaland And Ryan Cherky As the hosts pulled away in celebration, it was all about how seismic it could be.

It was only the second time this season that Guardiola’s side conceded three goals at half time. They have now dropped the joint-most points from a winning position in the Premier League since the start of the year (12, level with Tottenham Hotspur And Newcastle United)

That Haaland was able to reduce the deficit with a signature dinked finish over Jordan Pickford Before Doku’s late stunner means City do, at least, have some hope before clashing with them Brentford Victory at the Etihad on Saturday would move them within two points of Arsenal, who travel to relegation-threatened Arsenal. West Ham United sunday

From Everton’s perspective, Docu’s strike was the third injury-time goal they have conceded in their last three matches, following the previous defeat. Liverpool and West Ham. David Moyes’ side have made the fewest substitutions and used the fewest players of any team in the Premier League this season, and have tended to run out of steam of late as they proved costly in European qualification.

It’s City, though, who have been the biggest disappointment heading into Monday’s encounter, despite having collected more points (25) than any other team in their 12 league games unbeaten. Guardiola’s players have often proved themselves adept at rising to the title race, and while they have done so again this term, a mistimed late effort from Substitute Phil Foot — who was named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year when his club last won the title in 2023-24 — showed that this is not a static side of old City.

“We played fantastic in the first half,” Guardiola told Sky Sports after the game. “Really, really well. In the second half, (Everton) stepped up and maybe we weren’t as aggressive and then of course, we conceded the goal. … We took the point and we’ll keep going until it’s over.

“It’s not in our hands. It was before, it’s not now. We have games left. We’ll see what happens.”

with a Champions League Semi-final against Atlético Madrid Come Tuesday evening, Arsenal now have the ability to make this season one for the record books. Meanwhile, the city must be on the hunt and ready to capitalize if the gunmen slip up.

Of course, if Monday night’s dramatic finish is anything to go by, this season’s title race could go down to the wire.