What Richarlison did during Everton VAR check as Seamus Coleman fumes on Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden

Everton deserved much more than to come away from their game against reigning Premier League champions and leaders Manchester City empty-handed but other than what was a blatant handball from Rodri, what were the other moments missed from an evening at Goodison Park that brought encouragement if not tangible rewards for Frank Lampard’s side.

Everton are in a relegation battle right now – make no bones about it – and while they avoided dropping into the bottom three on Saturday, they could well occupy a place in the drop zone before they take to the field again.

It’s ridiculous that a team of their talent should find themselves in a position like this but the league table does not lie.

Nobody questions the ability of this group, they should be collectively gifted enough to find themselves safely in mid-table at least, but possible doubts have been raised over their stomach for the fight.

Without being over-physical – you can’t replicate Bayern Munich in 1985 as modern interpretations over the laws of the game would quickly reduce things to a six-a-side contest – the Blues showed Pep Guardiola’s maestros that they couldn’t just turn up at Goodison and expect the three points to be handed to them on a silver platter.

In that respect, a couple of Everton players old and new led the charge.

There were no surprises when captain Seamus Coleman showed the kind of commitment to the cause needed in such situations with a full-blooded shoulder to shoulder challenge on Kevin De Bruyne and later being caught up in a tangle with Phil Foden.

City won the throw-in but that was a small price to pay as Evertonians were out of their seats and roaring their approval.

What might have been a pleasant surprise though was seeing Donny van