Manchester City's chances of winning the English Premier League title suffered a blow as they were held to a dramatic 3-3 draw by Everton on Monday.
The match was filled with dramatic moments, highlighted by Jeremy Doku’s two goals, including a remarkable stoppage-time equaliser, which secured a point for City following Everton’s spirited comeback.
City appeared in control at half-time, with Doku giving them the lead in the 43rd minute through a curling shot from the edge of the box. However, Everton came to life in the second half, scoring three goals within a 14-minute period. Thierno Barry equalised in the 68th minute and added a second in the 81st, while Jake O’Brien’s header in the 73rd minute put Everton 3-1 ahead.
Manchester City responded strongly, with Erling Haaland scoring in the 83rd minute to keep their challenge alive. Yet, it was Doku who settled the final score, netting an exquisite long-range strike in the 97th minute that left Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford helpless.
This result leaves Manchester City in second place in the Premier League standings, trailing Arsenal by a significant margin. Manager Pep Guardiola admitted that the title race may now be beyond their control with only a few matches remaining. While City’s unbeaten league run extends to 12 games, dropping points against a mid-table team like Everton could prove costly.
Everton, meanwhile, will be disappointed to have conceded a late equaliser despite their commendable attacking performance. As of January 31, the 2025-26 Premier League standings are tightly contested at the top: Arsenal lead with 76 points, followed by Manchester City with 71 points, and Manchester United in third with 64 points. Liverpool and Aston Villa round out the top five with 58 points each as the season approaches its final stages.