A lack of composure and leadership cost Manchester City against Everton

Last night saw Manchester City escape the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a 3-3 draw with Everton. The draw in a pulsating Premier League fixture sees City hand the initiative in this season’s title race to Arsenal. City sit five points behind Mikel Arteta’s side on the Premier League table, although they do have a game in hand on the Gunners. Once Thierno Barry gave Everton a 3-1 lead in the 81st minute last night, City did well to salvage a point from the match. However, the period where Pep Guardiola’s side conceded three goals in 13 minutes proved costly. What stood out in the second half and across that 13-minute spell was a lack of composure and leadership from Manchester City. It cost City dearly last night at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Manchester City couldn’t gain control of last night’s match after halftime.

After Manchester City went in at halftime with a 1-0 lead after controlling the first half of last night’s match, the match swung in the second half. Everton were determined to get at City in the second half. David Moyes had clearly instructed his team not to allow City to settle into their rhythm in possession. Also, Everton made a concerted effort to play long balls over the top of Manchester City’s defence. The effects of this were clear to see in the lead-up to 13 minutes of carnage that saw Everton turn a 1-0 deficit in the 68th minute into a 3-1 lead in the 81st.

It was Marc Guehi’s poor back pass which gifted Thierno Barry an equalizer for Everton. But the rot for Manchester City had set in well before that moment. City were rattled by a hungry Everton side by that point. Only two quality saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma denied Everton an equalizer before the 68th minute. Throughout this period, and the 13 minutes that turned last night’s match, and potentially the title race on its head, City lacked composure to their play and leadership.

No City player, up until a frantic final push from Pep Guardiola’s side, could take control of the second half. It did seem like panic set in throughout the second half for Manchester City. Bernardo Silva couldn’t steady the ship. Nico was swamped or bypassed in midfield. Rayan Cherki couldn’t get on the ball. The City defence wilted and lost their duels as errors and misjudgment set in. Everton deserves all the credit in the world for their second half display. But City would have expected more from their leaders during that period. Last night’s second half was a harsh lesson for this City side. Composure is needed in such moments, especially in such a tight title race.

Pep Guardiola’s side do deserve credit for salvaging a point from last night’s match.

Despite a second half where Manchester City lacked composure and their leadership was lacking, they did find a way to salvage a point from last night’s match. Pep Guardiola’s side willed themselves back into the game and late goals from Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku made it 3-3 come the final whistle. City do deserve credit for that. Somehow, they lifted themselves out of the mire to ensure that they remain in the title race. Although, the initiative in the title race is now firmly in Arsenal’s hands.

From the beginning of the second half until Everton took a 3-1 lead in the 81st minute, Manchester City lacked composure and leadership. It proved ever so costly last night at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. The manner of the second half was a harsh lesson for Pep Guardiola’s side, but it may be an invaluable one for a team that needs to go through those phases to learn what it takes to navigate them. Manchester City’s latest fightback showed that they are made of the right stuff, although they had to suffer to show it in the game’s latter stages last night.