Manchester City started the game with renewed energy despite their recent poor run of form. In just the third minute, Joško Gvardiol came close to scoring with a header that hit the post following a corner. City soon found the breakthrough, though, when Bernardo Silva connected with a pass from Jeremy Doku. Silva’s attempt to cross the ball took an unfortunate deflection off Jarrad Branthwaite’s leg and looped into Jordan Pickford’s far corner.
Everton responded quickly, with Orel Mangala getting an early sight of goal, only for his shot to sail high and wide. Meanwhile, Erling Haaland remained a constant threat for City, frequently chasing long balls over the top, but Jordan Pickford was alert to snuff out the danger.
Leveling the Game: Ndiaye’s Moment of Brilliance
Midway through the first half, Bernardo Silva missed a golden opportunity to double City’s lead, misfiring from close range. Moments later, Everton found their equalizer. Abdoulaye Doucouré delivered a cross from the right, which grazed Manuel Akanji’s knee and fell to Iliman Ndiaye. With a sublime touch, Ndiaye controlled the ball and curled it beautifully into the far corner, leaving Stefan Ortega helpless.
Dramatic Second Half: Missed Chances and Pickford’s Heroics
City pressed hard in the second half, with Savinho testing Pickford early with a powerful volley that the Everton keeper parried. Mateo Kovačić followed up with a rebound that narrowly missed the target.
The game’s pivotal moment came in the 55th minute when Savinho drew a foul from Vitalii Mykolenko in the box, earning City a penalty. Haaland stepped up, but Pickford pulled off a stunning save, diving the right way. Haaland headed the rebound into the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Everton nearly stole the lead on several occasions. Doucouré’s far-post volley required a crucial deflection from Rico Lewis, while another speculative shot from Mangala deflected narrowly wide of the post.
Final Moments: Stalemate Despite Opportunities
Despite the late introduction of Kevin De Bruyne, City struggled to break down Everton’s resilient defense. In stoppage time, two counter-attacking opportunities for Everton went begging, with Jack Harrison failing to test the goalkeeper on the second attempt.
The draw extended Everton’s unbeaten run since their loss at Old Trafford earlier in the month. For Manchester City, it was another frustrating result, as Pep Guardiola’s side continues to search for consistency. Meanwhile, Sean Dyche’s men proved they are more than capable of competing with the Premier League’s elite.
Conclusion: A Well-Deserved Draw
Everton and Manchester City delivered an intense Boxing Day clash, with both sides showing resilience and flashes of brilliance. Pickford’s penalty save and Ndiaye’s equalizer stood out as key moments. City will regret missed chances, while Everton’s solid defense earned them a valuable point. A fair result in a thrilling encounter.
