Manchester City’s Title Hopes Dented After Chaotic 3-3 Draw at Everton

Key facts

• Manchester City drew 3-3 with Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday.
• Jeremy Doku scored twice for City, including a 97th-minute equalizer.
• Thierno Barry scored twice for Everton, with Jake O'Brien adding a header.
• City's maximum points tally this season is now 83.
• Arsenal need three wins from their final three matches to secure the title.
• Pep Guardiola said the title is 'not in our hands' after the draw.

A Six-Goal Thriller That Shifted the Title Balance

Manchester City’s 3-3 draw at Everton on Monday night was one of the most enthralling matches of the Premier League season, but for Pep Guardiola’s side, it may prove to be a pivotal setback in their pursuit of a fourth consecutive league title. The result, secured only by Jeremy Doku’s stunning injury-time equalizer, handed control of the title race to Arsenal, who now know that three wins from their final three matches will secure their first championship since 2004. City led 1-0 at halftime through Doku’s fine opener, but a chaotic 13-minute spell in the second half saw them concede three goals—two from Thierno Barry and one from Jake O'Brien—before Erling Haaland pulled one back and Doku leveled in the seventh minute of added time. The draw leaves City’s maximum points tally at 83, meaning Arsenal can finish above them if they win all remaining games.

The 13-Minute Collapse That Changed Everything

The match turned decisively in Everton’s favor between the 69th and 81st minutes. Barry’s first goal, assisted by a Marc Guehi error, leveled the score at 1-1. O'Brien then put Everton ahead with a header in the 73rd minute, and Barry struck again in the 81st minute to make it 3-1. City’s defense, which had looked solid in the first half, unraveled under pressure from a determined Everton side aiming to secure a European spot. Haaland responded immediately, scoring in the 83rd minute to reduce the deficit to 3-2, and Doku’s second goal of the night—a curling right-footed shot in the 97th minute—earned City a point. But the damage was done: City had dropped two points in a fixture Guardiola had described as tricky, and the title race was no longer in their hands.

Guardiola’s Admission and the Arsenal Factor

After the match, Guardiola acknowledged the shift in the title race. 'It's better than losing,' he said of the draw. 'It shows what type of team they are. [The title is] not in our hands. Before it was, now it's not. We have games left. We will see what happens.' The manager’s comments reflected the gravity of the result: City had entered the match knowing a win would put them level on points with Arsenal, but instead they fell further behind. Arsenal, who were not playing on Monday, watched from afar as their title hopes brightened. Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, speaking on Sky Sports, cautioned against premature celebration. 'I wouldn't be thinking we can afford to drop points now if I was Arsenal, but it is back in their hands, that is a fact,' he said. 'I am going to stay in my lane, I am not going to celebrate too early. Nothing is done.'

Doku’s Double and Haaland’s Response

Jeremy Doku was the standout performer for City, scoring twice—once in each half—with his second goal a spectacular curling effort from his right foot in stoppage time. The Belgium winger’s first goal, a fine opener in the 43rd minute, had given City a deserved lead at halftime. Erling Haaland, who had been relatively quiet, scored a crucial goal in the 83rd minute to spark a late rally, but it was not enough to secure victory. Everton’s Thierno Barry was the home side’s hero, scoring a double that included a goal gifted by a Guehi error. Jake O'Brien’s header added to City’s misery. The match saw a total of six goals, with the second half alone producing five of them.

What This Means for the Title Race

The draw leaves City’s title hopes hanging by a thread. With a maximum of 83 points, they can no longer control their own destiny; Arsenal, on 80 points with three games left, can clinch the title by winning all three. City’s remaining fixtures include matches against teams fighting for survival and European places, but even if they win all their games, they will rely on Arsenal dropping points. For Everton, the draw was a mixed result. They lost a two-goal lead and conceded in added time once again, but the point keeps them in contention for a European spot. The match was a testament to the unpredictability of the Premier League, where a 13-minute spell can reshape the entire season.

The Road Ahead: City’s Fate in Arsenal’s Hands

The title race now hinges on Arsenal’s ability to handle the pressure. The Gunners have three matches remaining, all against teams with little to play for, but the weight of expectation could prove heavy. City, meanwhile, must win their remaining games and hope for a slip-up from Arsenal—a scenario that seemed unlikely before Monday night. Guardiola’s side will need to regroup quickly, but the psychological blow of losing control of the title race cannot be underestimated. As one Arsenal fan wrote in after the match: 'I’m quite happy.' The mood in north London is one of cautious optimism, but as Henry noted, nothing is done until it is done.

The bottom line

• Manchester City’s 3-3 draw at Everton leaves Arsenal in control of the Premier League title race.
• City conceded three goals in 13 second-half minutes, including two from Thierno Barry.
• Jeremy Doku scored twice, with a 97th-minute equalizer salvaging a point for City.
• Pep Guardiola admitted the title is no longer in City’s hands.
• Arsenal need three wins from their final three matches to secure their first title since 2004.
• Everton’s point keeps them in contention for a European spot.