Pickford shines as Everton deny Man City victory | Premier League

Manchester City’s woes continued as they drew 1-1 with Everton in the English Premier League on Boxing Day at the Etihad Stadium.

The champions began the game strongly, taking the lead within 14 minutes when Jeremy Doku’s pass found the advancing Bernardo Silva, whose left-footed strike deflected off Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite before sailing into the far corner.

As City struggled to find a second goal, Abdoulaye Doucoure’s cross inside the box found Senegalese forward Iliman Ndiaye, who controlled it cleanly with his right foot before taking a sublime shot from outside his right boot for the equalizer.

Frustrated for most of the afternoon, the champions could have regained the lead seven minutes after the break when Everton left-back Vitalii Mykolenko fouled Savinho inside the box, but Erling Haaland had his` spot-kick saved by Three Lions goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Defeat means City — who have won just one of their last nine Premier League games — remain seventh on the table with 28 points, 11 points behind leaders Liverpool, who have two games in hand.

Meanwhile, Everton remain 15th after registering three consecutive draws.

After the match, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insisted his side played well despite dropping points at the Etihad.

“We played really good,” he said.

“But we are in a period right now that this is what happens. But yeah, keep going. Confidence will be with the results, because it always is in our minds.

“But the performance against that team was really good, defensively and offensively. We shoot a lot in the 18-yard box, but unfortunately we could not get the result we wanted.”

Guardiola also emphasized the need to strengthen his squad with new players in the winter transfer window.

The Spanish manager said, “We have to add players, definitely.”

“We struggle especially in the back and in the middle.

“I think we have to, but I don’t know if it’s going to happen. The transfer window in winter is not easy, but everybody’s aware.”

The Citizens travel to Leicester City on Sunday, and top EPL spoortsbooks are paying -270.27 for the champions to defeat the Foxes (+646).

Meanwhile, Everton host Nottingham Forest this weekend, and leading soccer betting sites have the +165 to beat their guests (+185).

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