Manchester City rescued a dramatic 3-3 draw at Everton on Monday night thanks to Jeremy Doku’s 97th-minute strike, but the result dealt a significant blow to their Premier League title hopes.
City now trail leaders Arsenal by five points with just one game in hand after a chaotic contest at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Arsenal sit on 76 points from 35 matches, meaning Mikel Arteta’s side control their own destiny with three games remaining. Win all three and the Gunners will clinch their first Premier League title in 22 years.
Doku, who had opened the scoring in the 43rd minute with a left-footed effort, fired into the top corner from the edge of the box deep into stoppage time to salvage a point for Pep Guardiola’s side. The equaliser came after Everton had stormed back from 1-0 down to lead 3-1 through a Thierno Barry double and a Jake O’Brien header. Barry’s first goal in the 68th minute came after a horrific back-pass from Marc Guehi to goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, while O’Brien made it 2-1 in the 73rd and Barry completed his brace in the 81st.
Erling Haaland had given City hope in the 83rd minute when he raced through and dinked over Jordan Pickford to make it 3-2, prompting dozens of travelling City fans who had begun to leave the stadium to rush back to their seats. But it was Doku’s stunning late curler that ensured City did not leave Merseyside empty-handed.
“It [the title] was in our hands and now it’s not, it’s in Arsenal’s hands, but we have Brentford on Saturday and now we continue,” Guardiola said after the match. “It’s better than losing. It shows what type of team we are. In general we were good in our process. Doku was outstanding. Unfortunately we could not capitalise, especially like we did in the first half. Everton away is always difficult.”
The draw leaves City on 71 points from 34 games, with a goal difference of plus 37. For all of City’s experience, Guardiola admitted the result was a setback. “City retain a game in hand over Arsenal, but face the harder run-in starting against Brentford on Saturday,” he said. “If they reproduce the 20-minute spell here in which they could not do right for doing wrong, then they will struggle to take the title race to the final weekend.”
Everton’s collapse in stoppage time marked the third consecutive game they have conceded late, drawing frustration from the home crowd. Sky Sports’ Adam Bate said the City players “look absolutely devastated” at full time, though the away fans were “chanting defiantly and clearly still believe that could be a big point in the title race.”
City’s remaining fixtures include Brentford at home on May 9, Crystal Palace away on May 13, and Aston Villa at home on May 24, with an FA Cup final against Chelsea scheduled for May 16. Arsenal’s run-in now appears smoother, and the pressure has shifted firmly onto Guardiola’s side to avoid any further slip-ups if they are to retain the crown.
