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English Premier League News and Updates

Leicester City 0 – 1 Fulham

Fulham continued their fine form as Aleksandar Mitrovic’s first-half finish was enough to see off Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.

The striker chested down Willian’s cross before firing home from close range in the 17th minute to help the Cottagers win their third successive match since the Premier League returned after the World Cup break.

Leicester almost leveled through Youri Tielemans, who smashed an 80th-minute effort against the crossbar.

Ayoze Perez also went close for the Foxes, failing to convert a Tielemans cross, while Fulham keeper Bernd Leno made an important stop to deny Harvey Barnes.

Leicester, who was greeted with boos at the full-time whistle, fell to a third defeat on the bounce and remain three points above the bottom three in the 13th.

Fulham’s latest win means they now sit on 28 points in seventh place – and in a Europa Conference League spot.

In their last two Premier League campaigns they went down with 26 points in 2018-19 and 28 in 2020-21.

But relegation fights feel like a thing of the past for Marco Silva’s men, who had the first chance through Willian’s curling shot.

The Brazilian then set up Mitrovic, whose opener was his second goal in three games and 11th of the campaign to equal his season’s best in the top flight.

The only blot on the Serbian’s record was a 78th-minute yellow card for a foul on Barnes, which will rule him out of Fulham’s next league match with Chelsea next Thursday.

Fulham had a chance to double their lead in injury time but Harry Wilson scuffed his shot narrowly wide when one-on-one with Leicester keeper Danny Ward.

While Fulham has shone since the resumption, Leicester’s form has been dull, even if they were unfortunate in their defeat to Liverpool last time out.

Having gone behind, the Foxes grew into this match with Jamie Vardy and Marc Albrighton having decent chances before the break.

Barnes was denied in the second half by Leno when through on goal, while Vardy, Tielemans, and Perez all could have gained a morale-boosting point for their side.

Leicester though fell to a third home defeat in a row without scoring for the first time since 1983.

Brendon Rodgers’ team also finished the game down on two key midfielders, with Boubakary Soumare suffering a hamstring injury in the first half and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall injured in the warm-up.

Both sides are in FA Cup third-round action on Saturday with Leicester at League Two Gillingham and Fulham visiting Championship side Hull City.

source – BBC

04/01/2023
Everton 1 – 4 Brighton

Brighton piled the pressure on Everton manager Frank Lampard with an emphatic victory at Goodison Park.

Kaoru Mitoma gave the Seagulls the lead with a composed finish after Moises Caicedo picked out the Japan winger on the edge of the penalty area.

The Toffees, who were fortunate not to fall further behind when teenager Evan Ferguson struck the outside of the post, were booed off at half-time.

But they fell apart completely after the restart as Brighton scored three goals in a remarkable six-minute spell early in the second half.

Ferguson, making his full Premier League debut, sidefooted Jeremy Sarmiento’s low cross into the top corner before turning provider for Solly March to drill home the Seagulls’ third.

Idrissa Gueye’s atrocious backpass was then easily intercepted by Pascal Gross, who coolly beat Jordan Pickford with a chipped finish.

Demarai Gray converted a late penalty for Everton, but it was nothing more than a consolation on a miserable evening for the hosts and their supporters.

The final whistle was greeted by more boos from the home fans, who have seen their team win only one of their past 10 top-flight games.

Everton could drop into the Premier League’s bottom three on Wednesday if other results go against them, while Brighton moves back up to eighth.

Lampard had called on his Everton players to show the same work ethic and desire that earned them an impressive point at Manchester City on New Year’s Eve, but they were comfortably second best in the first half at Goodison Park before folding feebly in the second.

The Toffees started the game on the front foot, Alex Iwobi forcing a fine one-handed save out of Robert Sanchez before Tom Davies shot straight at the Brighton goalkeeper from range.

But the hosts failed to heed the warning signs when Mitoma headed wide from an excellent position at the other end, then soon fell behind when the 25-year-old cut inside Conor Coady and calmly fired past Pickford.

If Everton fans were hoping for an improved second-half showing they were left bitterly disappointed as Ferguson, March and Gross proceeded to rub salt into their wounds.

The visitors could have won by an even greater margin but took their foot off the gas after Gross’ fourth, while Gray’s stoppage-time penalty was greeted only by a smattering of half-hearted cheers from the Everton supporters who had opted against leaving the ground early.

Chants of “sack the board” were heard at full-time as Lampard’s side remain in a perilous position just above the bottom three.

Newly crowned world champion Alexis Mac Allister was only fit enough for a place on the bench at Goodison Park, with Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi saying the decision not to start the Argentina midfielder was “best for his condition”.

But Caicedo – who missed the 4-2 home defeat by Arsenal through suspension – produced a dominant display in midfield as the visitors bounced back from Saturday’s loss in style.

Mitoma was a constant threat down Everton’s right, while Ferguson – who netted against the Gunners – capped another mature display with a finely taken goal to double the visitors’ lead.

The 18-year-old Irishman is the youngest player to score in consecutive top-flight games since Federico Macheda for Manchester United in 2009.

Victory at home to Liverpool in their next Premier League game on 14 January would lift the Seagulls above Jurgen Klopp’s side in the table.

source – BBC

04/01/2023
Arsenal 0 – 0 Newcastle United

Newcastle United frustrated Premier League leaders Arsenal to earn a point with a dogged display at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal was hoping to extend their lead at the top of the table to 10 points but found themselves drawn into an attritional and dogged encounter by a Newcastle United side with top-four ambitions of their own.

Chances were at a premium and Newcastle’s Joelinton arguably wasted the best of all when he headed wide with the goal at his mercy in first-half stoppage time.

Arsenal went close through defender Gabriel and forward Gabriel Martinelli, who both sent headers narrowly off target, while Newcastle keeper Nick Pope made a crucial late save with his legs from Eddie Nketiah.

The game descended into a scrappy affair with seven yellow cards and the deadlock remained unbroken, with Arsenal’s lead now eight points despite being held at home.

It may only be early January but Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s frantic touchline behaviour perhaps gave an insight into the growing expectations surrounding the Gunners after their superb season so far.

Arteta was on the edge of his technical area for so much of the night right until the end, confronting the fourth official Jarred Gillett when only five minutes were added on at the end then moving towards opposite number Eddie Howe after late penalty appeals were rejected before being ushered away.

It certainly did not give off an air of calm when one was needed as Newcastle’s determined defensive approach and desire to drag Arsenal into a dogfight led to frustration all around.

When Arteta calms down he can still assess a job being well done but this was a night when his Arsenal team ran into a formidable barrier in the shape of Newcastle, their work deteriorating after a bright start, although they still nearly snatched it at the end through Nketiah.

Arsenal still has that eight-point lead, although Manchester City has a game in hand.

It was never going to be all plain sailing for the Gunners and this was one of those occasions, the demeanor of Arteta reflecting what Newcastle will regard as a highly satisfactory outcome.

source – BBC

04/01/2023
Manchester United 3 – 0 Bournemouth

Marcus Rashford scored again as Manchester United stretched their winning run in all competitions to six games with a comfortable victory over a hapless Bournemouth in the Premier League.

The England international tapped into an empty net after a Bruno Fernandes pass to score in three successive Old Trafford league games for the first time.

His goal rounded off the scoring after Casemiro latched onto a Christian Eriksen free-kick with a beautifully cushioned volley to put Erik ten Hag’s side ahead halfway through the first half.

They doubled their lead four minutes into the second period as Luke Shaw, playing in his more accustomed left-back role again, swept home an Alejandro Garnacho cut-back to complete a beautiful free-flowing move.

United had started slowly, having a lot of possession in their defensive third but, once they found the opener, a seventh successive home win in all competitions never felt in doubt.

They stay fourth, but join third-placed Newcastle on 35 points, and, perhaps most importantly, have opened up a five-point cushion on fifth-placed Tottenham.

Bournemouth, who failed to have a shot on target until the 57th minute, stay 15th, two points clear of the relegation places.

It took time for £70m man Casemiro to make his mark at Old Trafford, with the 30-year-old not starting any of his first seven Premier League games after joining from Real Madrid.

Questions were asked about whether he was a Ten Hag signing, but he has started the Reds’ past 10 Premier League games – a run which has seven wins and two draws, alongside a defeat at Aston Villa.

His finish, a cushioned volley from seven yards, was a touch of class. He ghosted in behind the Bournemouth defense, opened his body, and steered Eriksen’s pinpoint cross from the left into the top corner.

It broke the game open after a tentative start and that allowed Shaw to score a magnificent end-to-end goal. The England left-back started the move on the edge of his own box, before tucking home from the penalty spot.

Rashford was then supplied with the easiest of finishes for his fourth goal in four games since the post-World Cup resumption.

United host neighbours Man City in their next league game on 14 January and could end that game above their city rivals, which would be a strong indication of the improvement they are making under Ten Hag.

source – BBC

04/01/2023
Brentford 3 – 1 Liverpool

Liverpool missed the chance to reduce the gap to the Premier League’s top four as Brentford punished their defensive frailties in a deserved victory at the Community Stadium.

In a desperate first half, Liverpool shipped two poor goals amid an inspired performance from the hosts.

The opener came when Ibrahima Konate deflected a corner into his own net after 19 minutes.

Liverpool was unable to deal with Brentford’s set-pieces, conceding twice more from corners in the first half only for both goals to be ruled out for offside.

Moments after the second disallowed effort from Yoane Wissa, the Bees striker headed in after Liverpool had sloppily given the ball away.

A triple half-time change from a visibly frustrated Reds’ manager Jurgen Klopp, including replacing captain Virgil van Dijk, had the desired effect and Liverpool pulled one back through Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain within five minutes of the restart.

At that stage, the momentum seemed to be with Liverpool, but Brentford weathered the storm.

With six minutes left, Bryan Mbeumo sealed an impressive success, brushing off Konate in pursuit of a long ball before slotting home.

Brentford is now unbeaten in six games – their best run in the top flight for more than 80 years – and climb to seventh.

Liverpool, who would have been a point off fourth with a win, stay sixth and two points are clear of the Bees.

This was another special night under the lights for Brentford with victory against Liverpool added to vibrant wins over Manchester United and Arsenal since their return to the Premier League.

It was also their first victory over Liverpool since 1938.

But for all of their good work, Liverpool’s disorganised, error-strewn defensive performance was notable.

Konate was unfortunate with the first goal which flicked his calf, but that corner came from Mbeumo running clean through on the counter-attack and goalkeeper Alisson having to bail out the defence.

The visitors were all at sea at the two subsequent corners, fortunately surviving on both occasions.

They made one mistake too many seconds later when Harvey Elliott lost the ball attempting a dummy in his own half which allowed Mathias Jensen to set up Wissa.

Konate should have been stronger too in the closing moments as Mbeumo knocked him off the ball before claiming the deserved third goal. It turned into a sorry night for the Liverpool centre-back on his first appearance since reaching the World Cup final with France.

After winning back-to-back games following the league’s restart, this was a disappointing setback for Klopp’s side.

They have now dropped 23 points in this campaign – one more than they did all last season.

source – BBC

02/01/2023
Nottingham Forest 1 – 1 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest claimed a valuable point in their relegation fight with a deserved draw against Chelsea, who lost ground in the Premier League top four.

Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling volleyed home from five yards after Wily Boly had flicked a cross onto his own bar.

Forest attacked with vigour in the second half and Morgan Gibbs-White crashed a stunning strike off the bar.

Serge Aurier showed fine composure when he controlled the ball on his chest and volleyed home the equaliser.

Chelsea, who have now only won successive league games once under Graham Potter since he was appointed on 8 September, climb above Brighton into eighth but are seven points behind Manchester United in fourth.

Forest, who claim a point for the first time this season after going behind, move above Wolverhampton Wanderers into 18th and are only behind fourth-bottom West Ham United on goal difference.

In the first half, Forest was keen to use the pace of Brennan Johnson in behind the Chelsea defence and he came closest for the hosts in a one-on-one with Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Despite falling behind early on the atmosphere at the City Ground was built throughout the half, inspired in part by the crowd becoming frustrated by the performance of referee Peter Bankes.

Steve Cooper’s team then leapt out of the blocks after the break, with Johnson having an effort saved before Gibbs-White rattled the underside of the bar with a wonderful strike.

The runs of Johnson and Taiwo Awoniyi in the channels caused Chelsea problems throughout the game, but as has been the case throughout the season – they have only scored 12 goals in 17 league games – they lacked the necessary quality in the final third.

It took a superb piece of finishing from defender Aurier to earn them a point but with yet more additions likely to be on their way in the January transfer window and a vocal fan base that has helped them go unbeaten in six games in all competitions, they have a chance of survival.

source – BBC Sport

01/01/2023
Tottenham 0 – 2 Aston Villa

Aston Villa increased the pressure on Tottenham manager Antonio Conte with victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. An error by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in his first game back since the World Cup allowed Emiliano Buendia to score before Douglas Luiz doubled the lead.

A lacklustre Spurs, who fell out of the Premier League top four on Saturday, have now won only two of their past seven matches.

Villa have won back-to-back away league games as they improve under Unai Emery.

It appeared this contest would pit the two keepers who faced off in the 2022 World Cup final penalty shootout against each other, but Argentina’s spot-kick hero Emiliano Martinez had to settle for a place on the Villa bench.

It was a poor match all round for returning finalists. Spurs’ World Cup-winning defender Cristian Romero was shown a yellow card in the first half – and fortunate not to get a second late on after barging Philippe Coutinho – while Lloris endured a shocking moment in the 50th minute.

He spilled Luiz’s long-range effort and Ollie Watkins squared the rebound for Buendia to slam home.

Luiz started and finished the move for 2-0, sliding a pass to John McGinn before racing on to receive the return and chipping cutely past Lloris.

Spurs were booed off at the final whistle, while some fans directed angry chants directed towards chairman Daniel Levy.
Having lost their place in the top four to Manchester United, the onus was on Tottenham to produce an improved performance.

While they did improve on their previous five games by not trailing at half-time, Spurs continue to look disjointed, exemplified after 18 minutes when Son Heung-min ripped off the protective mask he wore throughout the World Cup and threw it away in frustration.

Striker Harry Kane also cut an irritated figure, coming deep into midfield to get the ball after barely touching it in the early periods.

The England captain came closest to opening the scoring in the first half.

Ivan Perisic was played in over the top before being forced wide by keeper Robin Olsen, but he cleverly dinked a cross back over for Kane to head down. Ashley Young covered, having initially played Perisic onside, and managed to direct the effort behind for a corner.

Perisic should have scored shortly after Buendia’s opener when the ball fell kindly 15 yards out and he scooped over the bar.

However, Spurs set an unwanted club record of conceding at least two goals in seven successive Premier League fixtures.

They looked toothless in attack – Bryan Gil made his first league start in place of the injured Dejan Kulusevski, but was replaced just past the hour following an anonymous display – and Conte looked more miserable as his side slipped towards another worrying defeat.

While Emery’s reign at Arsenal was not a success, he did manage to get the better of Tottenham – going unbeaten in three games against their local rivals.

He continued that trend on Sunday, a solid defensive performance justifying the decision to leave a World Cup winner on the bench.

Martinez’s heroics in Qatar were not enough to unseat Olsen as Emery named an unchanged team from the side that lost to Liverpool on 26 December.

He was rewarded. Watkins and Buendia were bright to pounce on the opening Lloris handed them, while Luiz controlled midfield and deserved his goal.

They ensured Emery became the first Villa manager since John Gregory in 1998 to win his first two Premier League away matches.

The Spaniard also set a record of 55 Premier League games in charge without being involved in a goalless draw, surpassing former Spurs boss Ossie Ardiles.

Source: BBC

01/01/2023
Brighton 2 – 4 Arsenal

Arsenal moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League with an entertaining victory at Brighton.

This result, allied to Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Everton, extends Arsenal’s advantage heading in to 2023.

The visitors were cruising at 3-0 thanks to goals by Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Eddie Nketiah before Kaoru Mitoma pulled one back.

Gabriel Martinelli settled any nerves with Arsenal’s fourth before Evan Ferguson added Brighton’s second with his first league goal.

Mitoma had a second goal chalked off to deny the home fans a grandstand finish as Arsenal held on for a deserved three points.

Brighton was a long way off the pace for the first hour, but after Martinelli had restored the three-goal advantage they showed great spirit to reduce the arrears again through Ferguson.

They were then convinced they had made it 4-3 with two minutes remaining when Mitoma looked to have scored again, but after a VAR check, the Japanese midfielder was revealed to be just offside.

Arsenal is back in action against Newcastle United on Tuesday, buoyed by an increasingly formidable-looking lead over champions City with both sides having played 16 games.

Although the Premier League season is still not at the halfway point due to the World Cup hiatus, this win could be a key moment in Arsenal’s bid for a first title since 2004.

Brighton had been the last side to beat Arsenal – a 3-1 Carabao Cup win in November – but the prospect of a repeat looked unlikely as soon as Saka had latched on to a rebound from Martinelli’s shot to tuck the ball home for his sixth league goal of the season.

The absence of striker Gabriel Jesus through a knee injury collected while on World Cup duty may have worried Arsenal fans, but Saka and Odegaard are compensating for the Brazilian striker’s layoff.

Arsenal captain Odegaard’s seventh goal of the season came when he capitalised on a poor header out by Billy Gilmour to put his side 2-0 ahead before half-time, the Norwegian’s shot going down into the ground and beyond Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

And they started the second half just as well as the first, Nketiah poking the ball in from close range after Sanchez fumbled Martinelli’s shot from a tight angle.

But they wobbled when full-backs Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko were substituted after an hour. Rattled by Mitomo’s goal and then a good spell from the hosts, Martinelli finished off a length-of-the-pitch move with a shot that went in off Sanchez’s legs to seemingly put the game beyond Brighton’s reach.

William Saliba was then too casual on the edge of his own area, allowing Ferguson his chance to pull another goal back, and when Mitoma seemed to have made the score 4-3, Mikel Arteta’s side looked worried until the decision by VAR.

Arsenal faces a tough January before reaching the league campaign’s midpoint, with Tottenham and Manchester United to follow after Newcastle.

Their two meetings with second-placed Manchester City are also yet to come, and Arteta will want to address the defensive frailties that surfaced on the south coast.

The Seagulls returned from the World Cup break in fine style, winning 3-1 at Southampton on Boxing Day, but they will regret their slow start here.

Errors by Sanchez played a part in Arsenal’s third and fourth goals, but Roberto de Zerbi’s side finished strongly after capitalising on a dip in the Gunners’ performance following the substitutions of White and Zinchenko.

Ferguson, 18, was a handful on just his third Premier League appearance, all as a substitute, and he was smart enough to latch on to Saliba’s error to give his side a sniff of a comeback.

Mitoma was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet twice, but the Seagulls nevertheless end 2022 in eighth – their highest-ever placing in the top flight at the end of a calendar year.

source – BBC Sport

31/12/2022
Newcastle United 0 – 0 Leeds United

Manager Eddie Howe said 2022 had been a “year of real progress” after Newcastle ended it third in the Premier League despite being held to a goalless draw at home by Leeds.

The Magpies go into 2023 a club transformed from the one that, three months after their Saudi Arabia-backed takeover, was 19th in the table a year ago.

“2022 has been a great year,” Howe said. “The team has developed really well.

“We have had some great results. There are big challenges ahead but we look forward to those.”

Newcastle offered almost all the attacking threat at St James’ Park but was unable to find a winner which would have given them a seventh consecutive league win.

Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier saved excellently from both Chris Wood and Fabian Schar in the second half, which was played almost exclusively in the visitors’ territory.

Still, Newcastle is now unbeaten in 12 games – a run which goes back to August – and are two points behind second-placed Manchester City. They are nine adrift of leaders Arsenal, who increased their cushion with a victory against Brighton.

The hard-earned point for Leeds, who had one shot on target all match, moved them up a place to 14th.

Jesse Marsch’s side is now three points clear of the relegation zone.

This time a year ago the thought of Howe refusing to rule out a title challenge, as he did before this game, would have been fanciful at best.

They end the year in the top three for only the third time in the Premier League era – and the first since the 2001-02 campaign.

Much has been made of Newcastle as an attacking force this season with Miguel Almiron the most obvious improvement. Despite almost constant pressure, the winger was largely kept in check by Leeds’ resolute defence, who repelled wave after wave of Newcastle attacks.

Sean Longstaff blazed over from inside the area but otherwise, Newcastle’s clearest opening came from set pieces with Kieran Tripper’s delivery proving dangerous.

Meslier spread himself to make the block at the feet of Wood after a knock-down and saved with his feet to keep out Schar’s header.

Callum Wilson, fit again after illness, came on after 64 minutes for his first appearance since the World Cup but was kept quiet.

“It is a sign of how far we have come that they were timewasting and doing everything they could to take time out of the game,” Howe told Sky Sports. “All that was missing was the final third.

“It was one of those days for us. We had enough chances to win the game comfortably.”

Newcastle’s next match, a visit to Arsenal on 3 January, will offer some indication of whether they can indeed mount a title challenge.

Meanwhile, the clenched-fisted celebrations at the end from Leeds, whose one goalbound effort was a curling strike by Rodrigo tipped away by Nick Pope, suggested this was a point gained from their perspective.

“I feel good about coming here and getting a draw,” Marsch said. “The first half was good from us but in the second half, they started playing every ball into our end.

“I’m happy with how we dealt with the crowd and the mentality to get a draw and keep a clean sheet.”

source – BBC

31/12/2022
Manchester City 1 – 1 Everton

Manchester City defender John Stones says a point against Everton is “difficult to take” after his side was held in a feisty Premier League contest at Etihad Stadium.

The result leaves second-placed City seven points adrift of Arsenal, who extended their lead at the top of the table after beating Brighton on Saturday.

“I don’t really know what to say. I feel like we’ve lost two points,” said Stones.

“It’s difficult to take after the game. We showed great character to keep fighting and pushing. It was a bit of a scrappy game.”

Erling Haaland, noticeably incensed after an early exchange with Everton’s Ben Godfrey that left the Norway striker requiring treatment, finished off a lovely Riyad Mahrez move to open the scoring in the 24th minute.

However, during a tumultuous second half Demarai Gray scored a stunning equaliser after Rodri gave the ball away, making ground down the left and curling home a shot from just inside the area.

City threw what they could at the visitors during 11 minutes of stoppage time, but Everton stifled their attempts to cap off the year with a win.

Stones added: “We controlled the game for the majority of the time and had a lot of chances but couldn’t seem to get that goal.

“I’m very pleased with how we played. The result doesn’t reflect that. When the game is so disrupted, a lot of time-wasting [happens]. We kept creating chances but it didn’t come off.

“We conceded two shots all game but it’s overlooked because of that incredible goal.”

A victory would have seen Pep Guardiola’s side close the gap on his former assistant Mikel Arteta’s relentless Arsenal. After the same number of games last season, City were top of the league and the Gunners were 12 points behind in sixth.

This season, City are trying to win a third successive Premier League title but has dropped points on three more occasions than Arsenal, with the two sides still yet to face each other in the league.

Having scored twice against Leeds on Wednesday to become the quickest player to 20 Premier League goals in a season, Haaland seemed to direct any further frustration at his four-week World Cup-enforced absence from football towards Godfrey.

The defender, starting his first game since breaking a leg in Everton’s season opener, nudged Haaland in the early stages in an attempt to assert his authority, but seemed to only anger him – and the two engaged in a battle throughout the opening 45 minutes.

Haaland gesticulated and waved at the crowd in an attempt to spur them on, celebrated his opener wildly in Godfrey’s direction, and was eventually forced to calm down after being booked for a rash challenge just before half-time.

In a first half lacking clear opportunities, Haaland hit the side netting and Stones’ header struck a post as referee Andy Madley dished out five yellow cards.

Lengthy delays prevented City from truly taking control of the game in the second half.

A six-minute delay on account of the assistant referee’s radio being faulty, followed by another break as City forward Jack Grealish received treatment, sapped the energy that had been so high in the first period.

Gray’s equaliser rekindled some fire in City but the game ebbed away from them as Everton defended resolutely.

A searching pass from Mahrez could not find a way through to Haaland and a frantic melee in the box resulted in a stellar save from Pickford.

City is without a win in two home games, having recorded 11 straight victories at the Etihad before conceding in the 98th minute and losing to Brentford last time out.

Guardiola said: “I would say they had eight in the back. They made a fantastic goal and when that happens you say ‘congratulations’, but in general, we did really well.”

Everton had shipped seven goals in their past three league matches and won only one of their past eight.

An air of inevitability around how Everton’s season was shaping up had seemed to settle on supporters, the pressure was mounting on manager Frank Lampard, and a lack of progress on the pitch looked to be continuing in Manchester.

But while Guardiola’s side looked somewhat deflated by the second-half stoppages, Everton seemed all too pleased for the game to become fragmented and to limit City’s usually expansive football.

Gray’s magnificent goal almost came from nowhere, and every City attempt at a winner was blocked by a pink Everton shirt.

Crucially, Seamus Coleman got in the way of Phil Foden’s late opportunity and Rodri completely mistimed a header from a corner in the final seconds.

A point, at the home of the defending champions, is a valuable one for Everton and leaves them 16th in the table, two points above the relegation zone.

31/12/2022