‘We knew we had to win the game’

City five points behind Arsenal after 3-3 draw at Everton

Pep Guardiola praised Manchester City’s refusal to accept defeat at Everton, but admitted the destiny of the Premier League title is out of their hands after dropping two precious points at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

City are five points behind Arsenal with a game in hand having been held to a 3-3 draw by Everton, who were a goal down by half-time, but led 3-1 in the 81st minute. Erling Haaland reduced the deficit straight from the restart after Everton’s third goal before Jérémy Doku, who opened the scoring with a superb curled finish, produced a similar effort to rescue a point with virtually the last kick of the game.

Arsenal will win the league for the first time since 2004 should they take maximum points from their final three games.