Manchester City's fading hopes of a title challenge were preserved only by a Jeremy Doku equaliser in the 97th minute, as a six-goal draw at Everton left them with a point that will feel insufficient given the broader picture.
Doku's late strike, reported by BBC Sport, completed a remarkable finish to a fixture that had produced five goals before stoppage time. The result means City avoided what would have been a damaging defeat, though a draw at Goodison Park is unlikely to satisfy a club that needs wins to keep pace at the top of the Premier League.
The context is difficult to ignore. City have not been the relentless force of previous seasons, and dropping points at a venue like Everton — a side who have endured their own turbulent campaign — underlines the inconsistency that has plagued them. Six goals between the two sides speaks to an open, disjointed affair, and while Doku's intervention provided some relief, it does not alter the fundamental arithmetic facing the club.
For Everton, a point against one of England's most decorated recent sides will carry some comfort, particularly in a season during which they have fought hard to stabilise. They came close to holding a lead deep into added time, only to be denied by a moment of individual quality.
Doku, the Belgian winger who joined City from Rennes, has shown in flashes the directness and invention that made him one of the more anticipated arrivals of recent seasons. Whether a 97th-minute equaliser in a draw proves a turning point or a footnote will depend largely on what City do in the weeks that follow. The title race, for now, remains complicated.