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Manchester City's search for a Premier League victory stretched to a fourth game after a 1-1 draw with Everton, following last week's 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.
Pep Guardiola's side made a strong start at the Etihad when Bernardo Silva opened the scoring in the 14th minute, providing hope after their disappointing loss to Villa. However, Everton equalized shortly after through Iliman Ndiaye, whose deft chip over goalkeeper Stephan Ortega brought the visitors level.
City had an opportunity to reclaim the lead in the second half when they were awarded a penalty, but Jordan Pickford denied Erling Haaland with a remarkable save. Haaland's attempt to score off the rebound was ruled offside, adding to City's frustrations.
The defending champions have now gone five matches without a win, with their last victory coming against Nottingham Forest earlier this month. Speaking about his team's recent struggles, Guardiola attributed the poor form to the absence of key players, expressing confidence that results would improve once his squad is fully fit.
Adding to their woes, Manchester City faces significant off-field challenges, including 130 charges for breaching financial fair play rules. The alleged violations span a 14-year period from the 2009-10 season to February 2023, when the Premier League brought the case to light. Initially, 115 charges were announced, but this number has since grown due to administrative issues.
Despite these setbacks, City will look to end the year on a positive note when they travel to face Leicester City in their final Premier League match of 2024. They will then host West Ham on January 4, 2025, as they aim to regain their winning form.
Guardiola's team, known for its dominance in recent seasons, will be under pressure to turn things around quickly as they navigate both on-field challenges and off-field controversies.
