Doku's Late Double Rescues Point for City but Title Initiative Lost to Arsenal

Key facts

• Jeremy Doku scored in the 96th minute to secure a 3-3 draw for Manchester City at Everton.
• Thierno Barry scored twice for Everton, including a goal from an offside position after Marc Guehi's back-pass error.
• Manchester City remain five points behind Arsenal, who need to win their final three games to clinch the Premier League title.
• Pep Guardiola admitted the title race is no longer in City's hands after the draw.
• Everton's David Moyes was 'amazed' a penalty was not awarded when Bernardo Silva dragged down Merlin Rohl.
• Michael Keane escaped a red card for a wild lunge on Jeremy Doku, receiving only a yellow card.
• City have a game in hand but face a tougher run-in against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa.

Chaotic Draw Hands Arsenal the Advantage

Manchester City's hopes of retaining the Premier League title suffered a severe blow on Monday as they were held to a pulsating 3-3 draw by Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The result leaves Pep Guardiola's side five points adrift of leaders Arsenal, who now control their own destiny with three matches remaining. City appeared to be cruising when Jeremy Doku opened the scoring just before halftime, curling a shot into Jordan Pickford's top-right corner. But a second-half collapse, punctuated by basic defensive errors, allowed Everton to seize a 3-2 lead before Doku's stoppage-time equaliser salvaged a point.

Guardiola Admits Title Race Out of City's Hands

After the match, Guardiola conceded that the initiative had slipped away. 'It's now not in our hands; before it was, now no,' he said. 'Four games we have [remaining] in the Premier League. They will be quite similar, and we'll see what happens.' Guardiola acknowledged the frustration of salvaging only a point: 'It's better than losing. We'd rather win. We play for that, and we just showed what a team we are. We tried everything. The players were aggressive.'

VAR Controversy Surrounds Barry's First Goal

The match was not without controversy, particularly regarding Thierno Barry's first goal. The Everton striker was in an offside position when Manchester City defender Marc Guehi inexplicably under-hit a back pass, allowing Barry to score. The assistant referee initially raised his flag, but referee Michael Oliver overruled the decision after consulting VAR Paul Howard, who stayed out of the call. The law requires determining whether Barry's movement influenced Guehi's error. Everton manager David Moyes expressed amazement that his side were not awarded a penalty when Bernardo Silva dragged down Merlin Rohl in the final five minutes. Additionally, Michael Keane escaped a red card for a wild lunge on Doku, receiving only a yellow.

City's Second-Half Collapse and Defensive Errors

City's dominance in the first half evaporated after the break. Everton equalised through Barry, who scored after Guehi's back-pass blunder. Jake O'Brien then headed the Toffees ahead before Barry struck again, capitalising on another defensive lapse. Erling Haaland pulled one back in the 83rd minute, setting the stage for Doku's dramatic equaliser in the 97th minute. Guardiola's side had gone nearly two weeks without a proper outing after heavy rotation for the FA Cup semi-final win over Southampton. The lack of match sharpness may have contributed to the defensive errors that proved costly.

Arsenal's Path to the Title

Arsenal now need to win their final three games to end a 22-year wait for the Premier League title. They visit relegation-threatened West Ham on Sunday before hosting already-relegated Burnley and visiting Crystal Palace on the final day. City, meanwhile, face a tougher run-in against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa, in addition to a midweek game against Brentford. Despite the setback, City remain technically in the running for a domestic treble, having already won the League Cup and reaching the FA Cup final against Chelsea on May 16.

Players React: Doku and Haaland Vow to Fight On

Jeremy Doku, who scored twice on the night, echoed his manager's frustration while insisting the team had not abandoned belief. 'It's painful now, but there's still a lot of games to go, and anything can happen,' Doku said. 'We'll keep on fighting. We owe it to ourselves and our fans.' Erling Haaland, who scored City's third goal, could be heard saying, 'We're still in it,' as he shook hands with teammates after the final whistle. The Norwegian striker's goal kept City's hopes alive, but the team now requires a wobble from Arsenal to have any chance of reclaiming the title.

The bottom line

• Manchester City's 3-3 draw at Everton leaves them five points behind Arsenal with four games remaining, and the title race is no longer in their hands.
• Thierno Barry's first goal for Everton was controversial due to his offside position, but VAR upheld the decision after Marc Guehi's back-pass error.
• Jeremy Doku scored twice, including a 96th-minute equaliser, to salvage a point for City.
• Pep Guardiola admitted the title initiative has slipped away, though City remain in contention for a domestic treble with the FA Cup final ahead.
• Arsenal control their destiny and need to win their final three matches to secure the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years.
• City's defensive errors in the second half proved costly, highlighting a lack of sharpness after a period without competitive action.