Erling Haaland’s penalty miss sums up Man City’s troubles in frustrating draw with Everton
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Manchester City 1-1 Everton: Jordan Pickford saved Erling Haaland’s second-half penalty as the champions dropped yet more points. So no Christmas miracle for the man christened Josep. Instead, his new normality continued. Pep Guardiola has won 12 league titles but now he can’t win a game. It is a solitary victory in 13 attempts now for his malfunctioning Manchester City team; an unlucky 13, perhaps, except that arguably City got what they deserved. Wasteful in attack, brittle in defence, ponderous in possession, they lost another lead at the Etihad Stadium. They dropped two more points. With every setback, it feels more feasible next season’s Champions League will not feature the club who won the trophy 18 months ago.
![[Bernardo Silva celebrates after putting City in front at the Etihad]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/26/14/2191470431.jpg)
And with every display of bloody-minded resolve, it seems more probable that Bramley-Moore Dock will host Premier League football. Everton may be buoyed by the Friedkin Group’s takeover but they have also been cheered by the resistance of Sean Dyche’s band of grafters. A hat-trick of draws have been ground out, but unlike the stalemates with Arsenal and Chelsea, this was garnished by a goal, a glorious strike from Iliman Ndiaye. The other decisive contribution, unsurprisingly, came from Jordan Pickford. Exceptional of late, the goalkeeper was not overworked but he distinguished himself with a penalty save from Erling Haaland. “Credit to him,” said Dyche. “He had to make a decision and made the right one.”.
![[Iliman Ndiaye peels away after scoring a stunning equaliser for Everton]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/26/14/2024-12-26T130941Z_1797456223_UP1EKCQ10K3VX_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-MCI-EVE-REPORT.jpg)
Haaland’s fallibility underlined how all of City’s powers seem to be betraying them. For such a prolific striker, Haaland has never been an immaculate penalty taker. But a tame spot kick means his recent record stands at a lone goal in his last seven games. He may have been unnecessarily harsh in blaming himself for defeat at Aston Villa, but he had a culpability in City’s latest disappointment. There was also an uncharacteristic lack of confidence in the two moments when he headed back across the penalty box, looking for teammates, rather than going for goal himself.
![[Jordan Pickford dives to his right to stop Erling Haaland’s penalty]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/26/14/2024-12-26T144346Z_1002046109_UP1EKCQ124FWZ_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-MCI-EVE-REPORT.jpg)
