Erling Haaland had a penalty saved by Jordan Pickford to make sure Manchester Metropolis’s struggles continued as they have been held to a 1-1 dwelling draw by Everton on Boxing Day.
Pickford produced an excellent penalty save within the second half to earn the guests a degree and the England goalkeeper has now saved out his final two spot-kicks confronted within the Premier League, having additionally denied Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon in October.
Bernardo Silva, sporting the Metropolis armband, fired Pep Guardiola’s aspect right into a 14th-minute lead when his sliding cross deflected in off the boot of Jarrad Branthwaite.
However Everton dragged themselves degree 9 minutes earlier than the interval by way of Iliman Ndiaye’s gorgeous end, with the Senegal attacking midfielder expertly punishing some slack Metropolis defending.
The draw means Metropolis edge as much as sixth within the standings, however they might not finish Thursday in that place with seven additional fixtures nonetheless to be performed, together with Newcastle and Aston Villa – the 2 groups immediately under them – doing battle.
Everton, in the meantime, are as much as fifteenth, growing the hole between themselves and the underside three to 5 factors.
Information Debrief: Struggling Metropolis come unstuck in opposition to Toffees
Guardiola may have seen their Boxing Day fixture in opposition to Everton as a great likelihood to return to profitable methods, however they have been met with a stern defensive show that had just lately stopped Arsenal and Chelsea of their tracks.
Metropolis have now gained simply one among their final 9 Premier League matches (D2 L6), having gained 16 of their earlier 18 video games beforehand (D2), whereas because the begin of November, solely Heidenheim (28) have conceded extra objectives than the Residents (26) throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues.
Haaland netted 10 objectives in his first 5 Premier League video games this season however has since scored simply three in his final 13, underperforming his anticipated objectives (xG) by a league-wide complete of 5.2 in that point (3 vs 8.2 xG).
His penalty right this moment was the primary time he’s seen a goalkeeper save one among his Premier League spot-kicks, together with his different 16 being both scored (15) or hitting the woodwork (one).
Pickford saved his seventh Premier League penalty for Everton, the joint most for the membership together with Tim Howard. In Premier League historical past, solely Brad Friedel at Blackburn Rovers (10) and Jussi Jaaskelainen at Bolton Wanderers (9) have extra penalty saves at one membership.