A lack of composure and leadership cost Manchester City against Everton

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 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.