Manchester City vs Everton. Premier League.
Etihad StadiumAttendance54,512.
Saturday 15 October 2016 23:30, UK
Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne both had penalties saved by Maarten Stekelenburg as Premier League leaders Manchester City were held 1-1 by Everton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
De Bruyne and Aguero - who started the game on the bench - were the culprits from the spot and Everton made the most of their goalkeeper's brilliance by taking the lead through Romelu Lukaku (64).
Nolito equalised (72) within a minute of coming off the bench before Stekelenburg pushed a stunning late De Bruyne effort onto the post as Pep Guardiola lost his 100 per cent home record as City manager.
Despite dropping points for the second game in a row, City remain top of the Premier League - but only on goal difference ahead of Arsenal.
Guardiola reacted to the defeat at Tottenham by shuffling his pack and his formation. He made six changes to the team with Raheem Sterling and De Bruyne returning from injury in a 3-5-1-1 formation. John Stones, who joined from Everton for £50m in the summer, started against his former club.
Kelechi Iheanacho replaced Aguero as the lone striker but struggled to make his mark in the opening stages as Everton centre-backs Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams defended with great authority.
City looked threatening down the channels, especially through Leroy Sane, who had a penalty appeal turned down on 11 minutes when he tricked his way past Bryan Oviedo but the referee remained unmoved.
Everton's rugged defence was summed up by Seamus Coleman on 31 minutes when he thundered into a late challenge on Sterling catching the England winger on the ankle. No card was shown, much to the annoyance of the players and home supporters.
However, City did get a major decision just before the break.
David Silva wriggled his way past Jagielka in the box but the Everton skipper left a clumsy leg dangling which caught the Spaniard for a clear penalty.
De Bruyne, who had been dictating the play from midfield, stepped up by his right-footed penalty was palmed away by Stekelenburg.
City were made to rue for that wasted opportunity on 64 minutes as Everton countered with devastating effect.
Stones misjudged a long ball and Lukaku pounced, taking on Gael Clichy on the outside before reversing a shot into the far corner.
The Toffees now had something to hold onto, but shot themselves in the foot for the second time when Jagielka hauled down substitute Aguero, who had replaced Iheanacho.
The Argentine missed a penalty for his country in midweek and looked nervous as he stepped up. He decided to go the same way as De Bruyne and Stekelenburg guessed right again, pushing the ball to safety.
But Everton's lead only lasted two more minutes.
After Aguero forced the goalkeeper into another superb save, Silva recycled the play and delivered a fantastic ball into the box where Nolito nodded home.
Everton were now hanging on, but had their goalkeeper to thank again nine minutes from time.
De Bruyne smashed an outrageous effort at goal from distance which looked set for the top corner but Stekelenburg flung himself to his right and flicked the ball onto the outside of the post. That was enough to help the Merseysiders to a share of the spoils.
Player Ratings
Manchester City: Bravo (6), Otamendi (6), Stones (6), Clichy (6), Gundogan (6), Fernandinho (6), De Bruyne (8), Silva (8), Sane (6), Iheanacho (6), Sterling (6)
Subs: Kompany (6), Aguero (6), Nolito (7)
Everton: Stekelenburg (9), Oviedo (5), Jagielka (6), Williams (8), Coleman (7), Barry (7), Gana (7), Cleverley (6), Deulofeu (6), Bolasie (6), Lukaku (7).
Subs: Mirallas (6), McCarthy (6)
Man of the match: Maarten Stekelenburg
