Man City 1 Everton 1: Defending champions drop more points as Haaland fluffs his lines from penalty spot with shocker
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ERLING HAALAND fluffed the chance to lift the gloom over Manchester City. The Norwegian forward saw his second-half penalty saved by Jordan Pickford – meaning the fallen champs dropped yet more points. Pep Guardiola’s men have now won just one of their last 13 games in all competitions and even their normally deadly striker is misfiring.
![[Erling Haaland's goal drought continued as Jordan Pickford saved his penalty]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/manchester-citys-erling-haaland-sees-959889053.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The Etihad chief had ordered his players to spend Christmas night at the City Football Academy after training in a bid to halt the slide. But there was more bad news ahead of kick-off with England pair Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish ruled out. Even so, it looked like Pep’s decision was the wake up call his players needed after a disastrous couple of months.
![[Haaland netted a follow-up effort but was offside]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/manchester-citys-erling-haaland-stands-959888713.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
They began in confident fashion with Phil Foden’s cross headed against the post by Josko Gvaradiol early on. Inside the first quarter hour, they were ahead as Bernardo Silva latched onto a pass from Jeremy Doku and squeezed his shot over Jordan Pickford – via a deflection off Jarrad Branthwaite.
![[Bernardo Silva put City in front]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/manchester-citys-bernardo-silva-celebrates-959883174.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Everton have kept clean sheets against Arsenal and Chelsea in recent weeks – but even in their current form City were finding ways through. Silva wasted a golden chance to make it two as he screwed a shot wide after great build up play from Foden and Haaland.
![[Iliman Ndiaye fired back with a well-taken equaliser]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/editorial-use-no-use-unauthorised-959885330.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS. And they were made to pay moments later as Manuel Akanji made a hash of clearing Aboulaye Doucoure’s shot. It fell to Iliman Ndiaye at the back post and the Senegalese took a shot before steering a rising shot pas Stefan Ortega and into the corner.
