A second-half WORLDIE from Demarai Gray helped Everton to a well-earned draw away at Champions Manchester City in a game that no one could see anything other than a heavy defeat for Everton.
Four changes from the Boxing Day defeat at home to Wolves with Yerry Mina and Anthony Gordon both missing due to illness, Neal Maupay and Dwight McNeil dropped to the bench. Up stepped Ben Godfrey and Conor Coady with Everton changing to a back 5, and Demarai Gray and Dominic Calvert-Lewin made the attack.
Erling Haaland, who is more deadly than an assassin at the moment, felt the force of Ben Godfrey inside the opening minutes and from that moment on, Erling Haaland turned into a madman possessed. He got the opener midway through the first half after great feet from Riyad Mahrez, he created some space in the Everton box and played the ball across for Haaland, who from 6 yards out with his right foot found the back of the net, despite Jordan Pickford’s best efforts to keep it out.
Haaland’s celebration consisted of screaming in the face of Ben Godfrey, trying to get a reaction.
The first time Everton ventured forwards Amadou Onana was brought down by his fellow countryman Kevin De Bruyne and in another game, he could have seen a red. On the stroke of half time though, Erling Haaland should have seen red.
John Stones hit the post with a glancing header and with the ball at Vitaly Mykolenko’s feet, Haaland sprinted before lunging in off the ground 4 yards away. If Mykolenko had taken a touch of the ball, his leg would be in a splint and he would be out of action for the season.
Once again if we had strong enough officials City are down to 9 men but as per usual nothing happens.
https://t.co/HfddA2ptqh— Liam (@LKelly_92) December 31, 2022
Haaland knew straight away it was a poor challenge, wagging his finger before sprinting away when he saw the onrush of Everton players charging towards him.
So much for a big man.
The referee showed him a yellow card and Lee Mason who was on VAR must have gone to get a cup of Bovril as he didn’t ask Andy Madley to check the monitor as the replays showed the challenge ticked all the boxes of a red card.
In the second half Man City did not get going and Rodri, one of the best in the world in his position gave the ball away sloppily and Everton made him pay. Demarai Gray sprinted with the ball into the Man City box, Mykolenko went on the overlap which created a gap for Gray to unleash a thunderous shot from the edge of the box into the top corner, before executing an even better knee slide in front of the travelling Everton fans.
With plenty of time still to go, Man City piled on the pressure but Jordan Pickford was at his best to take a well-deserved point away at Manchester City.
Next up is Brighton at home on Tuesday evening when after the game we will be live on YouTube for the Vital Football Podcast