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Pep Guardiola was sad to lose two points but had no complaints about Everton’s approach after the Merseysiders held out for an unexpected 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium.
Demarai Gray canceled out Erling Haaland’s strike with a stunning equalizer in Saturday’s Premier League clash, with Arsenal beating Brighton 4-2 late on to create a seven-point cushion at the top.
Mikel Arteta’s side face Newcastle on Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium – live Sky Sports – which means they can be 10 points more by the time City visit Chelsea next Saturday at Stamford Bridge, well on Sky Sports.
The only team with at least a seven-point lead at the end of the New Year who did not win the title was Liverpool in 2018/19, who had the same advantage.
Tuesday, January 3, 7:00 p.m
Kick off 7:45pm
Everton’s game plan frustrated City in a contest of stop-starts, fouls and anger – although the biggest contributor to the 11 minutes of stoppage time played in the second half was the need for one of the assistant referees to have a headset. corrected.
City manager Guardiola said: “He scored a great goal with his first shot on target, so we played a great game.
“Of course the result was unexpected, but that’s football, it’s not the first time it’s happened. We did everything to win. They played well.
“After that, they broke the rhythm a bit because the referee was not ready, but in general, we did everything and unfortunately we couldn’t win.”
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FREE to watch: Highlights from Manchester City’s Premier League draw with Everton
Guardiola’s only complaint was the inconsistency of referee Andrew Madley.
He claimed he had no problem with Haaland’s booking to tackle Vitaliy Mykolenko and said he should have told the Norwegian, who was dismissed after an early clash with Ben Godfrey, to calm down.
However, the Spaniard was furious that violent challenges to players were not punished in the same way.
Guardiola said: “It’s a yellow card for Erling, of course. I said, ‘Be careful, it’s an action, it can be dangerous – we can’t play 10 against 11’. I know what happened – he was a little angry. The first action on the ankle.
“But Jack Grealish went down three or four times, nothing happened, and the first action (of Haaland) was a yellow card.”
Asked if he complained the players did not get enough protection, Guardiola said: “No, no, no.”
Lampard is proud of Everton’s approach
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Frank Lampard was full of praise for Demarai Gray after scoring a fine equalizer for Everton
It was the first point in four games for 16th-placed Everton. The Toffees, who lost 2-1 at home to Wolves in their first game after the World Cup, are now two points above the relegation zone.
Boss Frank Lampard said: “I think we limited a good chance (City), and it’s about our character and our discipline and implementing the plan, working continuously for 100 odd minutes, knowing that sometimes it’s difficult and you have to stick with it, I thought we did that brilliantly and we deserve a point.
“It’s big for us because we came from a bad blow against Wolves. To come to the championship and get something back in a difficult game is a big problem for us, even a point, but it’s a big problem for the dressing room. .
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Here’s Lee Hendrie’s reaction to Demarai Gray’s incredible goal in Everton’s visit to Manchester City
“It’s great to come here and open up against City and try to go forward, but they’re at a level and a position that’s not for us at the moment. I think we can be very proud of the way we approached the game.”
Lampard described Gray’s attacks as “unstoppable”, adding: “When he scores a goal like that, it just shows the talent he has, and he gets a point.”
Lampard also spoke about Michael Keane’s withdrawal from the matchday squad, saying: “Hopefully it’s a small injury behind the knee that he felt in training yesterday and felt it again in the warm-up today, so we’ll get it scanned.”
next six games Manchester City
Thursday, January 5, 6:30 p.m
Kick off 8:00 pm
Thursday January 5th – Chelsea (A) – Live in Sky Sportskick-off 8pm
Sunday, January 8 – Chelsea (H) – FA Cup third round, kick-off 16.30
Wednesday January 11th – Southampton (A) – Carabao Cup quarter-final, kick-off 8pm
Saturday January 14th – Manchester United (A) – Kick-off 12.30pm
Thursday, January 19 – Tottenham (H) – Live at Sky Sportskick-off 8pm
Sunday January 22nd – Wolves (H) – Kick-off 2pm
Arsenal’s next six games
Have Arsenal opened up an unassailable lead?
Tuesday January 3rd – Newcastle (H) – Live in Sky Sportskick-off 7.45pm
Monday January 9th – Oxford United (A) – FA Cup third round, kick-off 20:00
Sunday January 15th – Tottenham (A) – Live at Sky Sportskick-off 4.30pm
Sunday January 22nd – Manchester United (H) – Live on Sky Sportskick-off 4.30pm
Sunday 4 February – Everton (A) – Kick-off 12.30pm
Saturday 11 February – Brentford (H) – Kick-off 3pm
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