7M - Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City have lost control of title race after dramatic draw with Everton

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has conceded that his side no longer holds the advantage in the Premier League title race following a pulsating 3-3 draw against Everton. Despite a resilient performance at Goodison Park, the shared points mean the reigning champions are now reliant on their rivals dropping points in the final stretch of the 2025-26 season. Guardiola praised the tactical discipline of David Moyes’ side, noting that Everton’s ability to strike back during key moments of the match prevented City from securing the vital victory they needed to maintain their lead at the top of the table. The City boss emphasized that while his players showed immense character to fight for the result, the loss of two points in such a high-stakes encounter feels like a significant setback in their pursuit of another domestic crown.

The match itself was characterized by its high intensity and a series of tactical shifts that saw both sides leading at different stages. Guardiola acknowledged that Manchester City struggled to maintain their usual defensive solidity, allowing Everton to exploit gaps on the counter-attack and through set-pieces. He admitted that the game became "too open" for his liking, a factor that ultimately favored the physical and direct style of Moyes' team. While City dominated much of the possession and created numerous opportunities, the clinical finishing from the hosts ensured that the points were split, leaving the Manchester giants in a vulnerable position as they head into their final remaining fixtures.

As the title race reaches its conclusion, the focus for Guardiola and his squad turns to psychological recovery and the hope that their competitors will stumble. The manager reiterated that while the situation is now out of their direct control, the team will continue to push for every available point until the final whistle of the season. Pundits have noted that this result highlights the unpredictable nature of the current campaign, with Everton’s performance serving as a blueprint for how to frustrate the league's heavyweights. For Manchester City, the path to the title has become significantly more complex, and the draw at Goodison Park may well be remembered as the moment the momentum shifted in an extraordinarily tight championship battle.