Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted that the Premier League title race has shifted toward North London following his side’s dramatic 3-3 draw against Everton on Monday night. Despite a 97th-minute equalizer from Jeremy Doku saving a point at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, the City boss was candid about the consequences of the result.
The Turning Point
City looked to be in total control after a dominant first half capped by a Doku strike, but a frantic 13-minute second-half collapse saw the Toffees score three times. Guardiola pointed to a lack of composure and a few controversial moments as the reason for the slip-up.
“We were there in the first half and exceptional,” Guardiola told Sky Sports. “Then in the second half, they made a step up. We gave away the first goal, and for the second, the corner awarded wasn’t a corner. When you play with that much emotion, you make rushed decisions.”
He specifically cited Marc Guéhi’s poor back-pass, which led to Thierno Barry’s equalizer, as a moment where City “handed” Everton a way back into the contest.
Advantage Arsenal
The result leaves City five points behind league leaders Arsenal with only four games remaining. Crucially, even with their game in hand, City can no longer reach Arsenal’s potential points total if the Gunners win their final three matches.
“It was in our hands before this game, but now it’s not,” Pep admitted. “It’s better to have a point than no point, but we know the difficulty. Now we have to prepare for Brentford and see what happens. We will continue until the end.”
Praising the Fight
Despite the tactical frustrations, Guardiola was quick to praise the “never-say-die” attitude of his squad. With City trailing 3-1 in the 83rd minute, Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku produced a late surge to rescue the draw.
“Without that emotion, you cannot come back,” Guardiola added. “If you give up, you cannot do what we have done tonight. The third goal was outstanding. We take the point and move on.”
Title Race Standings (May 5, 2026)
• 1st: Arsenal — 76 points (35 played)
• 2nd: Man City — 71 points (34 played)
