Featuring early dominance, taking the lead, creating numerous chances, the spurning of these, and then their pesky foes taking one of their very few to thwart those in light blue.
Add to the above a dismal 53rd-minute Erling Haaland penalty miss - greeted with a mischievous wink by Jordan Pickford - and times are ever more trying for Pep Guardiola's men.
The bottom line is one win in 13 now for the champions, a collapse so spectacular you can expect that "doing a City" will soon become common usage. Before Haaland's despair they were flying. After it, they were winded. A blur of ball-hogging which lacked certainty whenever advancing close to Everton's goal.
As the contest aged Savinho's ballooned chip caused Guardiola further dudgeon: yet another spurned opening. His team are a liability each time they have to defend, too. A Guardiola trope is how, as here, the opposition score from very few chances. But this is a function of City's systematic failure from back to front. Missed opportunities become glaring if the rearguard enters a mini-panic whenever called to action.
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin December 27, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin December 27, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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