“The best team in the Premier League” – David Moyes lauds Manchester City after hard-fought Everton draw

Match Report and Player Ratings: Everton 3-3 Manchester City (Premier League)

Moyes: No doubt Man City are playing better than anyone

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Moyes was candid about the scale of the opportunity that had slipped through Everton’s fingers while paying generous tribute to the visitors.

“I’m disappointed because we were on the verge of taking three points against the best team at the moment in the Premier League,” he said.

“Whether Manchester City go on to prove they’re the best team by winning it, I don’t know. But there’s no doubt they’re playing better than any other team in the Premier League.”

The assessment from one of English football’s most experienced managers carries real weight in the context of a title race that still has plenty of twists left in it.

Guardiola himself had singled Moyes out for praise in his pre-Everton press conference and Monday’s performance from a defiant Toffees side chasing European football for next season underlined exactly why.

What does the result mean for City’s season?

City face Brentford, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Aston Villa in their remaining four Premier League games – alongside the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley – with the title race now almost entirely out of their hands.

Pep Guardiola issues spiky response to Michael Keane’s horror Jeremy Doku tackle

Arsenal face Crystal Palace, Burnley and West Ham in their run-in – and Guardiola will need favours from elsewhere if City are to keep their hopes alive beyond the next week.

Doku admitted the draw “feels painful” but vowed the squad would keep fighting until the end – and Moyes’ words on Monday night, however generous, served as a reminder of just how good this City side has been in the second half of the season.