Jeremy Doku’s 97th-Minute Equalizer Rescues Point for City After Everton Scare

On Monday night, the English Premier League produced a thriller in which Everton came agonisingly close to one of their greatest results in years, only for Manchester City to show once again why they remain such formidable champions.

In the end, a breathless 3-3 draw at Hill Dickinson Stadium left both sides with plenty to reflect on. Jeremy Doku stole the headlines with two stunning strikes, including a 97th-minute equaliser that mirrored his first-half opener and left the home fans heartbroken.

For David Moyes’ side, it was a performance full of spirit and quality that deserved more than a point, while for Pep Guardiola, it was another reminder that this season’s title race is far from straightforward. City started the brighter and took the lead just before the break when Doku produced a moment of real magic, curling a beautiful left-footed shot from the edge of the box past Jordan Pickford.

Everton, though, refused to be overawed. Pickford made several vital saves, including a superb stop to deny Erling Haaland, ensuring the Toffees stayed in the contest.

The second half, however, belonged to Everton. Substitute Thierno Barry pounced on a dreadful back-pass error from Marc Guéhi to level the scores in the 68th minute. Five minutes later, defender Jake O’Brien powered home a header from a James Garner corner to give the hosts a 2-1 lead. Barry then added his second of the night in the 81st minute with a cool finish, seemingly putting Everton on course for a famous victory at 3-1.

However, City are never beaten until the final whistle. Haaland pulled one back almost immediately, and in the dying seconds Doku stepped up once more, curling another exquisite strike from outside the box to snatch a share of the spoils.

The statistics told their own story. Everton significantly outperformed expectations in the second half, showing real clinical edge despite having far less possession. Barry’s brace and O’Brien’s set-piece goal highlighted their threat from the bench and dead-ball situations.

For Manchester City, the draw feels like two points dropped in their pursuit of a fourth successive Premier League title. They now trail Arsenal by five points with three games left, leaving the Gunners firmly in control.

Arsenal supporters were quick to flood social media with messages of gratitude to Everton. Everton, sitting comfortably in mid-table on 48 points, can take immense pride from their performance. The point keeps their slim European hopes alive and shows the fighting spirit Moyes has instilled in the squad.

For the fans who packed the stadium, it was a night they will remember for a long time – in many ways, the match captured everything that makes the Premier League special.

Everton exploited City’s occasional defensive vulnerabilities and maintained their intensity against a superior opponent. Doku emerged as City’s hero with two world-class goals, but the real story was Everton’s collective resilience and Moyes’ tactical organisation.