Everton FC correspondent Joe Thomas takes a look at some of the moments missed from the 1-1 draw at Manchester City
Everton showed their stubborn streak with another impressive draw as Iliman Ndiaye’s magical strike earned a point at Manchester City. The Senegal international wowed supporters with his deft touch and skilful finish at the back post after Bernardo Silva had given the hosts an early lead.
City missed a major chance to regain the initiative when Jordan Pickford saved from Erling Haaland’s weak spot-kick. But after that stop, the reigning champions failed to unpick a resilient Everton defence. The Blues could even have snatched it late on.
Now the dust has settled on another good result, the ECHO takes a look at some of the moments that did not make the headlines – some of which occurred behind the scenes at the Etihad…
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Bernardo Silva’s touch of class outside the dressing rooms
Silva had mixed fortunes on Boxing Day. His goal, which deflected cruelly off Jarrad Branthwaite, gave his side an early lead. But he should have doubled that moments before Ndiaye’s equaliser only to shoot wide with the outside of his boot after being played in by Phil Foden.
The result was the latest frustrating one for City but at the end of the game Silva showed his class with a moment that also highlighted the immense respect Seamus Coleman has earned during his long career.
As the Everton captain was on media duty in the bowels of the stadium, the Portugal international went out of his way to politely interrupt the conversations so that he could say goodbye to Coleman and wish him the best – a gesture that was reciprocated.
Manuel Akanji suggests Everton were inside Man City heads even before kick-off
When Silva opened the scoring many in the away end could have been forgiven for thinking their team’s chances of a result were over. For all that the Blues have impressed when they have something to protect, chasing a game has not been their strong suit under Sean Dyche.
But while many may have headed to Manchester fearing this would be the fixture in which City rediscovered their form, some in the home camp had different ideas. After the match it was Akanji who was on media duties and, like his manager Pep Guardiola, he stressed his belief that City’s performance had been positive.
And he used a memory of a recent game to justify the belief Everton are not an opponent to be taken lightly as he pulled out the memory of Demarai Gray’s equaliser at the Etihad over the Christmas period two years ago, when the visitors earned a surprise draw under Frank Lampard.
Akanji played at centre-back that day and clearly went into the fixture aware that one goal is not always enough when Everton visit.
Jordan Pickford’s mystic water bottle
Pickford’s penalty stop was crucial to the Blues securing this point and was no fluke. Once again, after his heroics, photographs of the water bottle he was using during the game came under the scrutiny of cameramen.
Like it has following other major spot-kick stops for England and Everton, it was plastered with analysis on City players and their penalty-taking stats.
This was not the biggest of the seven Premier League penalty stops Pickford has now made for the Blues – the save from James Maddison in the survival six-pointer at Leicester City has that title – but it was another reminder of his immense value.
Sean Dyche draws a chuckle from frustrated Pep Guardiola
Things may not be going well right now for Guardiola as his once-dominant Man City side struggles to find form – this draw making it just one win in 13 for a team used to conquering all in its wake.
After the match Guardiola appeared frustrated even as he tried to emphasise that he was happy with the display and that he had not cut a figure of exasperation on the sidelines. His demeanour was different when he caught up with Dyche on the touchline though as the pair shared a smile and a laugh as they interacted near the dugouts.
Dyche commonly cites Guardiola when he asked questions about his approach to things like the use and timing of substitutes – and the Everton boss moved first when it came to making the changes on Boxing Day, a rare occurrence.
Armando Broja’s clever spin has Phil Foden chasing shadows
Dyche is no shrinking violet on the touchline either and, like Guardiola, was engaged in the drama in the dugouts as the game unfolded. He and assistant Ian Woan recoiled several times in the first half as an isolated Dominic Calvert-Lewin struggled to hold the ball up.
It was a tough task for the forward and the one time Everton were able to get bodies in the box to support him, they scored, his presence forcing Akanji into the hurried clearance that deflected to Ndiaye at the back post.
The first change of this game was the introduction of Armando Broja for Calvert-Lewin and he had more joy as City desperately sought a late winner.
A highlight of his cameo was the clever way he took the ball under pressure and facing his own goal only to spin Phil Foden – forcing the England star to drag back Broja in desperation and pick up a stoppage-time booking.
It was a mark of City’s frustration and also of the impact the loan striker is having from the bench.
