Man City's winless run extended as Haaland pays the penalty against Everton

Agencies London: Manchester City’s plight is their individual kind of deja vu nightmare. Featuring domination, taking the lead, creating numerous chances, the spurning of these, and the pesky foe taking one of their very few to thwart those in blue. Add to the above a dismal 53rd-minute Erling Haaland penalty miss – greeted with a mischievous wink by Jordan Pickford following his save – and times are ever more trying for Pep Guardiola’s men. The bottom line is one win in 13 now for the champions, a collapse so spectacular expect “doing a City” soon to become common coinage.

Before Haaland’s despair they were flying. Post-this, they were winded. A blur of ball-hogging who lacked surety whenever advancing to Everton’s goal. As the contest aged Savinho’s ballooned chip caused Guardiola further dudgeon: yet another spurned chance. His team are a liability each time they have to defend, too. A (reasonable) Guardiola trope is how, as today, the opposition score from very few chances. But this is a function of City’s systematic failure from back-to-front. Missed opportunities become glaring when the rearguard enters a mini-panic on being called to action. Guardiola has been as dignified as his side has disappointed during the dire run, calm before the media, while exhorting his men to maintain City’s principles and, here, they did at first. A Josko Gvardiol forage forced a corner on the left.

Phil Foden fashioned a one-two with Jérémy Doku and a cross was headed off Pickford’s right post by the leaping Gvardiol. His manager scrunched features, then saw Savinho’s mazy run end in a shot that dribbled into Pickford’s clutches. This was City in the old, imperious mood, swatting the foe aside with pugnacious pass-and-move play. Savinho’s slashing runs shredded Everton along the right. Again he jagged into the area but, hesitating, pulled the trigger too late.

So Bernardo Silva showed the winger how. On City’s other flank, Doku’s precise ball found the Portuguese’s curving run: the angle was difficult but on shooting the effort ricocheted off Jarrad Branthwaite, beat Pickford and bobbled into the far corner. The No 20 ran to the jubilant crowd to celebrate. Teammates followed. As did a quick second nearly. Foden swung a free-kick over that begged Haaland or Nathan Aké to be rammed home but neither did and the playmaker swung his arms in upset.