Manchester City were left frustrated on New Year’s Eve as Everton earned a point at the Etihad Stadium.Man City 1-1 Everton highlights and reaction after Haaland and Gray goals
Julian Alvarez was a surprise inclusion on the bench after Pep Guardiola declared on Friday that he would not be available until 2023. City started well and Erling Haaland gave them the lead inside 25 minutes.
The game was ill-tempered and Haaland received a booking just before the interval after a strong challenge, with many Everton players arguing that he should’ve seen red. City’s momentum was squashed in the second half when the assistant referee’s technology broke.
Once the game restarted, Demarai Gray capitalised on a Rodri mistake to equalise for the visitors. The champions pushed for the winner but Frank Lampard’s side held strong to earn a creditable point.
Full time ratings
City were frustrated at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon by Everton.
Haaland gave the Blues the lead in the first half but they struggled to add to their tally.
A mistake by Rodri allowed Gray to score a screamer and leave City frustrated going into the new year.
Post-match Lampard reaction
Here’s what Frank Lampard told Premier League Productions after the final whistle, praising his side’s character and personality, Demarai Gray’s wonderful finish and the importance of carrying that momentum into the new year.
A lot of personality and work ethic. When you play a team of City’s level you understand what’s coming. If you open up against them they put you to bed so we had to have a certain style and the players kept to that and scored a goal. It’s very hard but they did it.
We had to not give them the space they wanted. I thought we were pretty good at that. We had some great blocks and defending too. When you stay in the game you have a bit of belief and you just need some moments. We got a special moment. You need that here at City.
The quality of the finish was top draw. Demarai Gray wants more of that and I do. It got us the point. You ride your luck a tiny bit of course. We deserved more last week after the result. Sometimes football pays you back in different ways.
Two physical lads! Erling Haaland, what a player, to see him in the flesh, he’s a special player. I like that side of it with Ben Godfrey.
We have two home games in the league and we need to go and get some points but we have to fight for every bit of it.
