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Over a season, a great goalscorer will prove more prolific than the scorer of great goals. Over 90 minutes, however, the inevitable was cancelled out by the memorable. Erling Haaland got his seemingly mandatory strike, but Demarai Gray delivered a magnificent one.
Manchester City encountered unexpected resistance and Frank Lampard grasped at a lifeline to end Everton’s losing run. This was only a draw but there is a case for anointing it his best result of the season, as well as perhaps his most needed.
Certainly it seemed the most improbable. Everton had not taken a point from their previous nine league games against City. A goal down, facing up to a fifth successive defeat in all competitions, their fears of relegation mounting, they did not muster a shot of any description until Gray sprang a surprise. What they lacked in quantity, however, they provided in quality.
Just Everton’s third strike in six games may be a contender for their goal of the season. After checking infield, Gray almost lost his footing before showing an altogether surer touch to curl a shot into the top corner. There had scarcely been a sign it was coming. Yet City had only turned 71 percent of possession in the opening hour into one shot on target. Which, as Haaland had it, threatened to be all they needed.
Instead, City dropped points for a second successive league game at the Etihad Stadium. Meetings with Brentford and Everton sandwiched the World Cup. They promised six points, but brought just one. Should they lose their grip on the title, such seemingly winnable fixtures could assume a greater importance.
Manchester City encountered unexpected resistance and Frank Lampard grasped at a lifeline to end Everton’s losing run. This was only a draw but there is a case for anointing it his best result of the season, as well as perhaps his most needed.
Certainly it seemed the most improbable. Everton had not taken a point from their previous nine league games against City. A goal down, facing up to a fifth successive defeat in all competitions, their fears of relegation mounting, they did not muster a shot of any description until Gray sprang a surprise. What they lacked in quantity, however, they provided in quality.
Just Everton’s third strike in six games may be a contender for their goal of the season. After checking infield, Gray almost lost his footing before showing an altogether surer touch to curl a shot into the top corner. There had scarcely been a sign it was coming. Yet City had only turned 71 percent of possession in the opening hour into one shot on target. Which, as Haaland had it, threatened to be all they needed.
Instead, City dropped points for a second successive league game at the Etihad Stadium. Meetings with Brentford and Everton sandwiched the World Cup. They promised six points, but brought just one. Should they lose their grip on the title, such seemingly winnable fixtures could assume a greater importance.