Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes suffered a crushing blow on Monday as they dropped precious points at Everton, relying on Jeremy Doku’s goal deep into stoppage time to salvage a 3-3 draw.
City, with 71 points from 34 games, are five points behind leaders Arsenal but have a game in hand after a chaotic match in which Everton fought back after punishing a costly defensive error by City’s Marc Guehi.
City now need Arsenal – who have 76 points after 35 games – to stumble in one of their last three matches to keep their chances of lifting the trophy alive.
«It’s better than losing. But it’s not in our hands,» Guardiola told Sky Sports about the title race. «That used to be the case, but not anymore. We still have games to play. We’ll see what happens.»
Guardiola’s men looked headed for defeat and City’s traveling fans had already flocked to the exits with their title dreams in tatters when Doku, who also scored City’s opener in the 43rd minute, fired into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time.
The equalizer capped a wild second half with a double from Thierno Barry and a goal from Jake O’Brien.
City had gone into control after Doku had bent a beautiful strike into the top corner, which keeper Jordan Pickford had little chance of saving.
But Guardiola’s men fell apart in the second half. It started when Barry intercepted Guehi’s gruesome pass to goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 68th minute and leveled the ball.
Initially the offside flag was raised, but as the ball was not passed to Barry by a teammate, the goal was given.
O’Brien headed in a corner to put Everton ahead in the 73rd minute and Barry completed his double in the 81st after another defensive error.
“It’s always a pleasure to play against a big team like Manchester City,” said Barry. “We had to settle for a draw, so we have to keep pushing because there are still three games to go.”
City did not back down as Erling Haaland pulled one back in the 83rd minute, breaking through the Everton line before lifting the ball over Pickford.
Doku’s late-match heroics extended City’s unbeaten run in the league to twelve games.
Everton sit 10th in the crowded mid-table battle for European places next season.
«I think it’s going to be difficult,» said Everton boss David Moyes. «In the last few games we have lost games late and today we drew. It could and probably will have an impact on our final position.»
Published on May 5, 2026
