Haaland saved a penalty kick in a boring draw

Manchester City once again failed to win as the Premier League champions were held to a draw at home by Everton.

Erling Haaland had the opportunity to give Pep Guardiola’s team the desired victory, but his penalty kick in the second half was saved by English goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

City took the lead when Bernardo Silva saw a shot hit the net and go past Pickford.

But Ilémane Ndiaye restored parity for Everton with a brilliant shot across goal from the outside of his boot.

Jordan Pickford before saving Erling Haaland’s penalty kick… 🤪#MCIEVE pic.twitter.com/RhlDwCgTmZ

— English Premier League (@premierleague) December 26, 2024

City won a penalty kick in the second half when Savinho was fouled by Vitaly Mikulenko, but Haaland’s shot was well saved by Pickford.

City have now won just one of their last 13 matches in all competitions and sit sixth in the table.

They have dropped 26 points in the league – already more than they had in the whole of last season – and will need to win all their remaining matches to equal last season’s 28-win league win.

Everton again

This was another honorable result for Sean Dyche’s team after drawing against Arsenal and Chelsea in the previous two matches.

After Silva’s bizarre opener, Everton were not disillusioned and, after a few more chances, were booked when Uriel Mangala volleyed over the bar from Ndiaye’s pass. Idrissa Gueye also shot Stefan Ortega from a distance.

When Manuel Akanji missed the chance to clear Abdoulaye Doucoure’s cross, N’Diaye was left in space to shoot and fire the ball into the roof of the goal.

City seemed to have regained its energy in the second half, and Pickford blocked Savinho’s shot before Mateo Kovacic shot the ball wide of the goal.

They then had a golden chance to restore the lead when Vitaliy Mikulenko collided with Savinho with a late challenge inside the box.

Everton captain Seamus Coleman, who started for the first time since August, was booked for delaying Haaland as he prepared to take the resulting penalty.

He may have felt his antics paid off when Haaland took a poor penalty kick and Pickford blocked it to his right.