Football can be so cruel. Marc Guéhi has been outstanding for Manchester City since his January transfer from Crystal Palace, a major factor in their resurgence in this Premier League title race. One of the signings of the season.
And yet he may have had his Steven Gerrard moment, which may have just cost City the crown. Again, it happened in Liverpool. But this time it was Everton against City and not – as with Gerrard, when he slipped over to allow Demba Ba to score – Liverpool versus Chelsea in 2014.
That season it led to City being champions. Now the advantage is emphatically with Arsenal, who are five points clear with three games to go, having played a fixture more. And, importantly, with a superior goal difference.
Jérémy Doku’s 97th-minute equaliser salvaged a point – after City imploded and fell 3-1 behind – and that may prove even more momentous than Guéhi’s error. Before that goal Arsenal could even afford to draw. Now they have to keep winning – unless City falter again on Saturday.
There may be twists and turns to come, but Guéhi looked haunted as he left the pitch. He knew how much it meant. He looked like the game was up.
The reality is that City’s destiny is no longer in their hands and, while they can cut Arsenal’s lead to two points, if they beat Brentford at home, before Mikel Arteta’s side are away to relegation-threatened West Ham United on Sunday, they cannot go ahead of them.
Psychologically that feels significant. Indeed, it feels that if Arsenal win at the London Stadium, it is done and they will be champions for the first time in 22 years.
City will not quite believe how they did not win here and, pertinently, how Everton did not have Michael Keane sent off for a nasty lunge at Doku in the first half. The defender had to go but was only cautioned.
But then Everton will also wonder how they did not take all the points, given the astonishing number of chances they eventually created – or were handed. It was that kind of chaotic match and the confusion around Guéhi’s blunder summed it up.
Maybe it is unfair to home in on that incident. A 10-month season in that desperate handful of seconds. But City were fully in control after the first of Doku’s wonderful strikes and Everton appeared beaten. Then all hell broke loose, even before the equaliser, as they lost their composure, lost their way and suddenly appeared overwhelmed by the pressure of it all. They cracked.
For Guéhi it was a horrendously underhit back-pass, and not a slip, which led to Everton’s first goal that led to the turnaround. Bewilderment reigned as to whether it should have been allowed, as scorer Thierno Barry was clearly in an offside position when the ball was initially played towards him, but it stood.
Guéhi was under no pressure and in full control and so it reset the offside phase, meaning Barry was no longer active when he intercepted and side-footed home. Or so the law goes. Referee Michael Oliver eventually gave the goal and Guéhi knew the weight of it all.
What was so strange is why he even attempted to play the pass, as surely Barry was in his line of sight, closing down Gianluigi Donnarumma. It would have been safer to turn the other way.
Afterwards Pep Guardiola was defiant. He has to be. It is not over, as he said, although he admitted City had to win. But his expression on the touchline, as his team somehow shipped three goals to opponents they had utterly dominated, betrayed his true feelings. He also looked stunned.
So what happened? It almost appeared inexplicable. City swarmed all over Everton, although it was not until just before half-time that they broke through with Doku curling a sumptuous shot beyond Jordan Pickford’s grasp. “Easily the worst we have played against one of the top teams,” Everton’s David Moyes admitted afterwards of that first period. “We could hardly breathe.”
It felt that would lead to more. Except City struggled under Everton’s aggression. “We turned it into a game Man City probably didn’t want to have,” Moyes explained. Twice Iliman Ndiaye had the chance to score before they did.
Ndiaye’s second opportunity came after Guéhi and Matheus Nunes got in each other’s way and it proved a precursor.
What was wrong with City? They had not played for 10 days and were less than convincing in their previous two matches against Burnley and Southampton. They certainly miss the injured Rodri. Nico González and Mateo Kovacic are inadequate replacements for the composure he brings.
Still, that does not fully explain what happened and probably it was City showing the lack of experience in key areas now the heat really is on. Within five minutes of Guéhi’s howler they conceded again as Jake O’Brien headed in a corner from close range and then, later, a third as Merlin Röhl’s mishit shot ran to Barry, who tapped it in.
Game over? Title race over? Immediately City struck back with Erling Haaland running on to a through ball between the two centre-halves and dinking it over Pickford. Everton should have had a penalty when Bernardo Silva held Röhl – but it was not given after a VAR check – and both teams went for it.
Donnarumma came up for two corners, Everton broke and – at the death – Doku again finished superbly to deny Moyes his first victory over Guardiola at the 16th attempt. But there was a winner, back in north London with his former player, Arteta.
Guardiola admits it is Arsenal’s title to lose
Pep Guardiola admitted it was advantage Arsenal in the title race after Manchester City’s dramatic collapse against Everton on a controversial night at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
City were leading 1-0 courtesy of a fine strike from Jérémy Doku only for a dreadful blunder by Marc Guéhi to hand Thierno Barry an equaliser and cause a madcap 13-minute meltdown during which Everton went 3-1 in front, before being pegged back to 3-3.
The result left City five points adrift with a game in hand and Guardiola conceded the title was now Arsenal’s to lose.
“It’s not in our hands. Before it was, now it’s not,” the City manager said. “We have games left. We will see what happens. The second and third goals are outstanding and we take a point. It was in our hands and Arsenal hands and now it is not, but we have Brentford on Saturday and now we continue.
“We need to win our games. If they win their games the title will be for Arsenal. We have to recover well for a series of games in three days and this is what we have to do.”
City will have the chance to apply some pressure should they beat Brentford at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday before Mikel Arteta’s side travel to relegation-threatened West Ham the next day, but this was a costly night for Guardiola’s men.
Guardiola has been scathing about some of the refereeing this season – and going back years. But he refused to be drawn on whether he felt Michael Keane should have been dismissed for a challenge on Doku after the VAR upheld referee Michael Oliver’s on-pitch decision.
“What can I say? Yellow card. And Doku out for 30 seconds waiting to come back. It’s not my job,” he said.
Asked by Sky Sports about the challenge, Guardiola added: “Your pundits can say it.”
Guardiola refused to apportion blame on Guéhi for his blunder and waved away talk of the pressure getting to players.
“Nothing, zero,” he said. “I talk so highly about these players that we have. We played outstanding in the first half. Second half, they made a step up and we maybe weren’t as aggressive and after, of course, we gave away the goal. After they came back, they make a proper English game – so aggressive, so, so aggressive in the duels. But in general, we made a really good performance.”
David Moyes, the Everton manager, was furious his side were not awarded a penalty when leading 3-2 when Bernardo Silva appeared to throw Merlin Röhl to the ground.
“I have seen it and had a look, if that doesn’t get given as a penalty it is an absolute free-for-all. It looks like you are able to grab and wrestle,” he said. “That is on the back of a terrible decision at West Ham. Most football supporters will find that difficult [to understand].”
Recommended
David Moyes talking to Sky Sports
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— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2026"We let ourselves down, we defended the second goal so poorly"
David Moyes says that his side needed to defend better after going in front against Manchester City 😕 pic.twitter.com/kA00bhACaR
Title in Arsenal’s hands now
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— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2026"If Arsenal beat West Ham, it's done" 😳
Arsenal can seal the title next week, thinks Jamie Carragher 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/RxsqvV8nCG
Jeremy Doku speaking to Sky Sports
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“First half we played well and created a lot of chances. We know if we do not score those chances it is going to get difficult at the end. Obviously, they are at their own stadium, they create chances, and they are dangerous, and they scored two goals, but I think we gave them the game. Good that we came back because one point is not bad in games like this.”
On Everton’s deep defensive line:
“Difficult because they had players in the box. Whenever we arrive at the byline it is difficult because there is a lot of players there. We scored, then it was more open. Second half we were too sloppy. I think we were winning, so they started to press more, and they are more aggressive as well, and then it is on us to stay calm in those situations. We know that one point can be important at the end. Happy to score and happy to help the team.”
On dropping two points:
“We will see. It feels painful now. There are still a lot of games to go. We lost two points today. We will keep on fighting; we owe it to ourselves and to our fans.”
Late, late equaliser
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3 - Jérémy Doku's equaliser (96:49) was Man City's third-latest goal on record (since 2006-07) in a Premier League game after John Stones' strike against Arsenal in September 2024 (97:14) and Gabriel Jesus' goal against Everton in February 2019 (96:52). Drama. pic.twitter.com/pLdHbhvLd5
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 4, 2026
Jeremy Doku’s second stunner of the night
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— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2026"That's just a beauty, he was outstanding tonight" 👏
Thierry Henry speaks about Jeremy Doku's equaliser 💥 pic.twitter.com/3S0HJqbAol
Marc Guehi’s huge error
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Could this potentially be the moment the title slipped away from Manchester City? They were 1-0 up at this point and cruising, only for Guehi to gift Everton an equaliser before Manchester City imploded.
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2026"I don't know why Guehi plays that pass"
Thierry Henry analyses Thierno Barry's first goal against Man City 🔍 pic.twitter.com/v1DDT0HoVD
Manchester City’s remaining four league games
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May 9: Manchester City vs Brentford
May 13: Manchester City vs Crystal Palace
May 19: Bournemouth vs Manchester City
May 24: Manchester City vs Aston Villa
It is now out of Manchester City’s hands. They could win their last four games and still not win the league if Arsenal win their remaining three matches. They are five points behind Arsenal with a game in hand. It is not an easy run-in for them either, probably harder than Arsenal’s.
Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports
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“We do not know if that point will be vital at the end of the season but it almost feels like a situation where everybody is disappointed. Manchester City are disappointed because it felt like they were at ease at 1-0. Arsenal supporters, players and manager will be devastated that it could and maybe should have been a defeat. But what a game. Unbelievable.”
Thierry Henry on Sky Sports
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— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2026"I saw a bit of nervousness with Man City, they imploded"
Thierry Henry's immediate reaction to Everton 3-3 Man City 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ENjxZzdu1L
How the top looks
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You have to say it is now advantage Arsenal after Manchester City dropped two points at the Hill Dickinson tonight. Arsenal now know three wins from their last three games will guarantee the title.
This round of Premier League fixtures
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Friday:
Leeds 3 Burnley 1
Saturday:
Brentford 3 West Ham 0
Newcastle 3 Brighton 1
Wolves 1 Sunderland 1
Arsenal 3 Fulham 0
Sunday:
Bournemouth 3 Crystal Palace 0
Manchester United 3 Liverpool 2
Aston Villa 1 Tottenham 2
Monday:
Chelsea 1 Nottingham Forest 3
Everton 3 Manchester City 3
FT stats
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Possession: Everton 25%-75% Manchester City
Shots: 14-20
Shots on target: 6-4
Corners: 5-9
Touches in opposition box: 15-46
Full time
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A bonkers second half is brought to an end to boos from the home crowd and a crazy game ends 3-3. Manchester City looked in control at 1-0 up 65 minutes into the game but a crazy 15 minutes saw Everton then go 3-1 up. However, Manchester City have managed to salvage something from the game courtesy of goals from Haaland and that late stunner from Doku. Despite that late goal from Doku, Manchester City’s title hopes have taken a major blow on Merseyside this evening. The Everton fans did not seem too impressed that the final whistle did not go earlier but they did make two separate substitutions.
And breathe!
GOAL! Another Doku stunner brings Manchester City level at the death
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Could that still be a pivotal moment in this title race? Doku has already scored one stunning goal tonight and you can make that two as he curls one into the top right corner from the edge of the box.
90+7 mins: Everton 3 Manchester City 2
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Manchester City have another corner and Donnarumma has come back up...
90+6 mins: Everton 3 Manchester City 2
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Everton make a very late change as Armstrong replaces Iroegbunam.
Manchester City have a corner and bring Donnarumma up. The Italian does get his head on it but eventually Everton clear their lines.
90+5 mins: Everton 3 Manchester City 2
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Manchester City are desperately searching for an equaliser but even that does not feel enough to realistically keep them in the title race.
90+3 mins: Everton 3 Manchester City 2
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Kovacic slides a pass forward into the path of Marmoush but Mykolenko slides in to intercept.
90+1 mins: Everton 3 Manchester City 2
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Everton are making a late double change as Alcaraz and Patterson replace Rohl and Dewsbury-Hall. That will certainly add on another 30 seconds or so onto the original six minutes.
90 mins: Everton 3 Manchester City 2
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You can imagine both Everton and Arsenal fans will not want to see a lot of added time and we now have the answer. There will be six added minutes.
88 mins: Everton 3 Manchester City 2
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I suspect with all the drama in this second half there may well be a fair amount of added time.
86 mins: Everton 3 Manchester City 2
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Marmoush is on for Manchester City in place of Silva.
Foden strikes one from range but it ends up missing the target by some way.
85 mins: Everton 3 Manchester City 2
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Around the 65-minute mark, this game looked like it was going one way as Manchester City were seemingly cruising to all three points. Fast forward 20 minutes and this game has gone absolutely bonkers.
O’Brien brings Doku down not far outside his own box and is into the book. O’Brien, who did put Everton 2-1 in front, has had a torrid time up against Doku. There is a check for a possible penalty to Everton as Silva did appear to bring Rohl down but it is cleared. Silva is a touch fortunate there.
GOAL! Haaland hits back for Manchester City
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Maybe this game is not quite done and dusted. Kovacic, from inside the centre circle, slides a sublime through ball down the centre of the pitch to put Haaland in one-on-one. The Norwegian lifts it over Pickford to get a goal back for Manchester City. Some of the away fans had started to leave but will they now return to their seats?
GOAL! Barry increases Everton’s lead
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Is that the Premier League title race done and dusted? Manchester City have completely lost the plot and they are shellshocked. Rohl drives forward down Everton’s right and moves into the Manchester City box. He scuffs his effort but the ball falls to Barry, who slots home. There were appeals for offside but he was clearly onside. Arsenal fans will be jumping for joy right now.
80 mins: Everton 2 Manchester City 1
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15 minutes ago, Manchester City were in complete control of this game. Now, their title hopes are seemingly hanging by a thread.
78 mins: Everton 2 Manchester City 1
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Foden is tripped by Garner just outside the Everton box and this is a good opportunity for Manchester City. Cherki and Foden are standing over it.
Cherki takes but it goes wide.
75 mins: Everton 2 Manchester City 1
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Manchester City are falling apart and Everton can smell blood. The hosts have the chance to score a third and once more Ndiaye has a good opportunity but his shot is straight at Donnarumma. In just 10 minutes, maybe not even that, Manchester City have self-destructed.
In the aftermath of Everton’s second, Manchester City have brought on Kovacic and Foden.
City have to regroup here. They look shaken by the dramatic turnaround. 14 huge minutes plus injury time now in the title race.
GOAL! O’Brien completes Everton turnaround
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In the space of a few minutes, Everton have gone from 1-0 down to 2-1 up and this is throwing a huge spanner in Manchester City’s title hopes. Pep Guardiola looks stunned in the dugout. Garner clips in a cross from the left and O’Brien flicks on a header at the front post inside the six-yard box. Donnarumma is claiming he was fouled and is booked for his protests. VAR sees no foul in there and the goal stands. In a matter of minutes, the title race has taken a huge swing in Arsenal’s favour.
72 mins: Everton 1 Manchester City 1
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Manchester City are all over the place and Everton come close to taking the lead through Ndiaye but Guehi slides in with a crucial interception inside his own penalty area.
GOAL! Barry equalises for Everton after huge Guehi error
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What has happened there? Barry puts the ball into the Manchester City net after a huge Guehi error. The offside flag then goes up and Guehi thinks he has got away with a terrible back pass. Then, the officials convene and actually give a goal. Barry was initially in an offside position as a pass was played forward but Guehi is deemed to be in control as he attempted to pass the ball back to Donnarumma. That then effectively plays Barry onside and he slots home past Donnarumma. How big a moment is that going to be in the title race? The red half of north London is jumping around in joy at the sight of that goal. How will Manchester City respond?
67 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 1
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If Arteta is watching at home, he will have been up off his sofa there when Ndiaye was through after a Guehi-Nunes mix up. Ndiaye with a glorious chance to equalise but shoots straight at Donnarumma.
65 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 1
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That is massive chance for Everton to equalise and Ndiaye should have brought the hosts level. Guehi and Nunes make a mess of a bouncing ball, which allows Ndiaye to go through one-on-one with Donnarumma. Ndiaye should score but is denied by Donnarumma. It is a decent save from the Italian but Ndiaye should be taking a chance like that.
64 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 1
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Everton are going to make their first change of the night and it is a straight swap up top as Barry replaces Beto.
60 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 1
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Chance for Everton. The home side counter from inside their own half and Ndiaye is allowed to carry the ball through the Manchester City half. The visiting defenders keep backing off, allowing Ndiaye to take it all the way to the edge of the Manchester City box before getting his shot away. He forces Donnarumma into a decent save down to his right but it lacked the power to beat the Italian.
55 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 1
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Noel Gallagher is among the travelling Manchester City fans at the Hill Dickinson tonight.
52 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 1
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Both Everton centre-backs are now into the book as Tarkowski pulls Haaland back as the ball was played forward. Tarkowski complains but there is not much to complain about with that one.
51 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 1
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Play has been halted as Semenyo has received treatment to his head/neck after colliding into Mykolenko. Semenyo will be fine to continue.
48 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 1
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Beto is into the book for a silly, late challenge on Guehi that was out of frustration. That is such a stupid booking for Beto.
47 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 1
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Dewsbury-Hall feeds a pass into the left side of the Manchester City penalty area to pick out the run of Beto but Guehi gets back to make the block. Beto took perhaps slightly too long to shoot.
46 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 1
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Silva’s shot from outside the box is blocked before O’Reilly also an effort blocked from inside the box. Manchester City have come out quickly after the break.
Second half
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We are back under way at the Hill Dickinson. If Manchester City claim all three points, they will close the gap to Arsenal to three points with a game in hand. Those fans in the red half of north London will be hoping for an Everton equaliser. These next 45 minutes could prove to be pivotal in the title race.
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher feels the Michael Keane challenge on Jeremy Doku was probably an orange card but not quite a red card.
Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports
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“Everton had that one opportunity, and that is all you sometimes get against Manchester City. They do not give up possession too often, but Marc Guehi is just left. Beto just lacks composure and he almost panics, they lack a little bit of class in those moments. If he relaxes, maybe he has a shot or finds a teammate.”
HT stats
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Possession: Everton 24%-76% Manchester City
Shots: 3-12
Shots on target: 0-2
Corners: 2-6
Touches in opposition box: 4-31
The stats were fairly one-sided in that first half and Manchester City deserve their lead at the break.
Half-time
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The first half is brought to an end and Manchester City lead 1-0 at the break thanks to that Doku stunner. You cannot say really that Manchester City do not deserve that lead at half-time.
45 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 1
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Keane slides in hard on a challenge on Doku and referee Michael Oliver decides it is worthy of a yellow card. Keane could be in more trouble here. It is rash and VAR will be taking a look at whether it is violent conduct. He will probably survive without being sent off and VAR clears it. The thing that has saved Keane is that the contact is quite low. Any higher and he probably would have gone. He is slightly lucky he did not catch him higher.
Two added minutes at the end of this first half.
Keane is very lucky to stay on there. Cleans Doku out. Guardiola looks bemused on the touchline that Michael Oliver has not been sent to the pitchside monitor.
GOAL! Doku stunner puts Manchester City in front
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A stunning way to break the deadlock at the Hill Dickinson. Moments before, Doku had wasted a good chance on the edge of the box having taken too many touches but this time finishes with aplomb. Cherki finds him on the edge of the box and shifts it onto his left foot before curling his effort into the top right corner. A sublime finish and a big goal in the title race. Some hearts would have just dropped in north London.
He doesn’t score too many Doku but when he does find the net they tend to be worldies.
39 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 0
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Arsenal, as they are preparing for a huge Champions League semi-final second leg tomorrow night, will surely be watching on and will be willing Everton on but there is still plenty of time remaining.
Cherki spurns a good chance for the visitors as once more Doku gets the better of O’Brien and squares it for Cherki, who blazes over from the centre of the penalty area.
33 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 0
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Khusanov and Tarkowski come to blows, which leads to referee Michael Oliver calling both over for a word.
Khusanov and Tarkowski squaring up. Now that would be a scrap. The Uzkbekistan defender doesn’t take kindly to Tarkowski pulling his shirt and you could see the Everton defender goading him, almost encouraging him to do something daft.
32 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 0
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Everton do appear to have just weathered the initial Manchester City storm and come close to taking the lead. Rohl is played in down the right channel, getting the better of Guehi. Rohl drives into the Manchester City box and looks for Beto at the far post but there is a key hand from Donnarumma to push it away from Beto, who does spin and retrieve the ball before having a shot blocked.
That’s the danger for City. Everton waiting for their moment to exploit the high line on the break. Only a vital touch from Donnarumma stops Beto scoring there.
30 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 0
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Play is halted as Khusanov has gone down. Beto does catch Khusanov on the achilles but it was probably no more than a foul. VAR did quickly check for a possible red card but that was very quickly checked and cleared.
29 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 0
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The TV cameras have picked out Jack Grealish in the dugout, who is on loan from Manchester City at Everton but is out for the season. He would not have been eligible for this game anyway even if he had been fit but Everton would probably like to have him out there if they could.
25 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 0
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The Everton fans finally have something to shout about as Gonzalez gives the ball away inside the Manchester City half and results in Dewsbury-Hall having a shot blocked by Khusanov that goes behind for an Everton corner.
Garner puts it into a good area and Keane meets the delivery but his header is not the best and O’Reilly clears.
24 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 0
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City are targeting Everton’s full backs. O’Brien is a centre back who has been playing right back for much of the season and Mykolenko has his limitations. Doku is having success getting in behind on the left and Semenyo similarly on the right. Nunes and O’Reilly are offering good support from full back. If City are to break through this very low block their wingers look the most likely source.
21 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 0
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Another chance for Manchester City. Doku skips by O’Brien and stands a cross to the back post, where Semenyo comes onto it first time and volleys over the bar. Semenyo knows he should have done better with that chance. O’Brien is struggling up against the pace of Doku and needs some help out on Everton’s right.
20 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 0
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Here is a stat for you; Manchester City have had nearly 100 passes in the final third, Everton have had three.
18 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 0
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A Manchester City goal does feel like it is coming. Doku crosses from the left side of the area and picks out O’Reilly, who takes the ball under his control before getting a shot away that is blocked.
The chances keep coming for Manchester City. First Cherki has a shot from the right side of the box saved by Pickford before Semenyo drags a shot from a similar position wide of the far post. Was it a shot or a cross? If it was a shot he probably should have hit the target.
16 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 0
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In the opening quarter of an hour, Manchester City have had nearly 90% possession and Everton have barely been able to string a few passes together in succession.
O’Reilly gets into the Everton penalty area on the left side and looks to cut it back to Haaland in the six-yard box but Garner slides in with a crucial interception.
12 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 0
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Everton are being pegged back as Manchester City are ramping up the pressure. The visitors have already had a number of corners inside the opening quarter of an hour and Everton cannot get out.
8 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 0
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The pitch was heavily watered before kick-off. Already two Manchester City players - Matheus Nunes and Nico Gonzalez - have slipped over and lost possession in dangerous areas. Maybe there is an issue with their boots as they did not anticipate the surface being so slick.
6 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 0
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The first corner of the game goes the way of the visitors as the last touch comes off Tarkowski. Cherki is walking rather slowly over to take the corner on the left. It is interesting how that is not deemed time wasting just because it is six minutes in.
Manchester City take it short before Cherki eventually clips the ball into the box. Guehi wins the header and tries to find O’Reilly but Everton are able to clear.
4 mins: Everton 0 Manchester City 0
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As you would expect, Manchester City are dominating possession and Everton are looking to play on the counter.
Kick-off
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We are under way at the Hill Dickinson. Will Manchester City close the gap to Arsenal to three points or will Everton do their former player Mikel Arteta and Arsenal a huge favour in the title race?
Nearly ready for action
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Z Cars rings around the Hill Dickinson as the two sides emerge from the tunnel. Here is a reminder of how the two sides line up this evening:
Everton: Pickford: O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Iroegbunam, Garner, Rohl, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Beto.
Substitutes: Travers, Patterson, McNeil, Barry, George, Dibling, Coleman, Alcaraz, Armstrong.
Manchester City: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly, Gonzalez, Silva, Semenyo, Cherki, Doku, Haaland.
Substitutes: Trafford, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Marmoush, Kovacic, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden.
Pre-match thoughts of David Moyes
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“It is a difficult opportunity, if you are playing Man City. If we can win tonight, it will keep us in the hunt [for Europe], but it is a difficult opponent. It is always a hard thing to stop Manchester City because they have been so good over many years, but we will do everything. We have given most teams here a good game and we plan to try and do that tonight.”
Importance of Ndiaye?
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— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2026"If something special happens, it's going to come from Ndiaye" 💫
Could Illiman Ndiaye be the difference maker for Everton tonight? 🔵 pic.twitter.com/rBHVC3r0Pj
City’s title rivals watching on
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They have just shown Mikel Arteta - the former Everton midfielder and, of course, now the Arsenal manager - scoring for Everton against Manchester City on the big screens inside the stadium. The goal came in a 2-0 win over City in 2010. It helped deny City a Champions League place. How Arteta would love another Everton win this evening.
Nico O’Reilly talking to Sky Sports
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— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2026"Of course there is a lot of pressure, we like the pressure"
Nico O'Reilly speaks ahead Man City's visit to Everton 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/g22R9SIjBb
Manchester City’s last five results
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Manchester City 2 Southampton 1 (FA Cup)
Burnley 0 Manchester City 1 (Premier League)
Manchester City 2 Arsenal 1 (Premier League)
Chelsea 0 Manchester City 3 (Premier League)
Manchester City 4 Liverpool 0 (FA Cup)
Pre-match thoughts of Jordan Pickford
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— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2026"This place will be bouncing" 🙌
Jordan Pickford is looking forward to the challenge of facing Manchester City 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/4FgGTNs2Dn
Everton’s last five results (all Premier League)
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West Ham 2 Everton 1
Everton 1 Liverpool 2
Brentford 2 Everton 2
Everton 3 Chelsea 0
Arsenal 2 Everton 0
Gueye absence explained
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One man missing from the centre of Everton’s midfield tonight is Idrissa Gana Gueye. His boss David Moyes has confirmed that Gueye picked up a slight injury in training, thus explaining his absence.
Teams in full
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Everton: Pickford: O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Iroegbunam, Garner, Rohl, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Beto.
Substitutes: Travers, Patterson, McNeil, Barry, George, Dibling, Coleman, Alcaraz, Armstrong.
Manchester City: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly, Gonzalez, Silva, Semenyo, Cherki, Doku, Haaland.
Substitutes: Trafford, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Marmoush, Kovacic, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden.
Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports
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Jamie Carragher says that Manchester City can flip the pressure back onto Arsenal if they win their next two games ⚖️ pic.twitter.com/tj9hhZs8Rf
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2026
This round of Premier League fixtures
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Friday:
Leeds 3 Burnley 1
Saturday:
Brentford 3 West Ham 0
Newcastle 3 Brighton 1
Wolves 1 Sunderland 1
Arsenal 3 Fulham 0
Sunday:
Bournemouth 3 Crystal Palace 0
Manchester United 3 Liverpool 2
Aston Villa 1 Tottenham 2
Monday:
Chelsea 1 Nottingham Forest 3
Everton vs Manchester City
James Ducker- It is clear Pep Guardiola is still agonising over whether to leave Man City
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It is nearing midnight on Tuesday and Pep Guardiola, glass of red wine in hand and ensconced on a sofa in his luxury £2.7m apartment in Manchester city centre, is immersed in Paris St-Germain’s titanic Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
Manchester City’s manager already knows the result. He could not avoid it because his phone had been pinging incessantly with messages earlier in the evening from delirious friends and colleagues asking if he was watching this unfolding classic.
He was not because he had elected instead to be at Edgeley Park as one of 8,884 to see Stockport County take on Port Vale in League One, a guest of the club’s chairman and owner, Mark Stott.
Manchester City team
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— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 4, 2026Your City side to take on Everton! 💪
XI | Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, O'Reilly, Nico, Bernardo (C), Semenyo, Cherki, Doku, Haaland
SUBS | Trafford, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Marmoush, Kovacic, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden
Team news incoming
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We are about to find out the two starting XIs at the Hill Dickinson Stadium...
Visitors cannot afford to slip up in title race
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Manchester City travel to the Hill Dickinson Stadium to face Everton, aiming to reduce the deficit to leaders Arsenal. Manchester City have not played in over a week since booking their place in the FA Cup final after beating Southampton 2-1 at Wembley in the semi-finals. Since they beat Burnley 1-0 to go top of the table on goal difference, Arsenal have played twice and won twice to move six points clear of Manchester City having played two games more.
“Difficult opponents [Everton], they always have been,” Pep Guardiola said. “It will be weird because the old Everton stadium was so cool and nice, very British. I loved going there, but I am looking forward to the new stadium. They defend really well. David Moyes knows exactly what to do. The game we played at the Etihad was decided by two or three actions, but at that moment we were not good. We are better now, and hopefully we can use what we are playing for to win, win, win.”
Manchester City won the reverse fixture 2-0 at the Etihad back in October thanks to a second-half double from Erling Haaland. Everton have a miserable recent record against Manchester City, with their last victory in this meeting coming back in January 2017, when they thrashed Manchester City 4-0 at Goodison Park as Ronald Koeman got the better of Pep Guardiola, who was halfway through his first season at Manchester City.
Since beating Burnley at the start of March, Everton have won just one of their subsequent five league games. They come into tonight’s game in 11th but could rise into ninth with a win as the race for European spots is hotting up.
“The players are not used to it [challenging for Europe],” David Moyes said. “But it is a better feeling than trying to avoid relegation. Hopefully we keep improving and challenge the best teams. Players want to play in the Premier League but they also want to be involved in European football. We have been close this year, top end of the league. We struggled to attract players in the summer because they want European football.”
Team news to follow shortly.