Pep Guardiola vows Man City will not let up in title fight despite Everton draw

Pep Guardiola promised his Manchester City side will keep fighting in the Premier League title race against Arsenal after dropping two critical points in a dramatic 3-3 draw at Everton on Monday night.

Jeremy Doku gave City a first-half lead, but Everton stunned the Carabao Cup winners with three goals in 14 minutes, substitute Thierno Barry scoring a double either side of a Jake O’Brien header as the hosts capitalised on uncharacteristic errors from the visitors.

But after Erling Haaland quickly pulled one back, Doku curled in an outstanding strike with virtually the last kick of the game to give City a point at least. They are five behind Arsenal but still have a game in hand.

“We need to win our games,” Guardiola said. “Now it is not in our hands.

“If they win their games the title will be for Arsenal. Now have to win our next game, we have to recover well for a series of games, and this is what we have to do.”

City chose a terrible time to end an eight-match winning run away to Everton, but Doku’s late intervention could prove pivotal.

Where a defeat would have felt terminal in the title race, a point means Arsenal must win their remaining three fixtures to be certain of being crowned champions if City can take maximum points from their own games.

“It’s better the point than no point, but it (would be) better to win the game that we needed,” Guardiola said.

“I know it was in our hands and in Arsenal’s hands as well, it depended on goal (difference). Now it’s not, but we have a responsibility. We play Brentford on Saturday and we continue and we will see what happens.

“Better effort cannot be possible. The message is the same as the day before. We have four games left and a final – win the games. That is the message.