Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes that his side "played really well" and "did everything to win" against Everton following their 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on New Year's Eve.
The Citizens were in front at the break courtesy of Erling Braut Haaland's 21st league goal of the season, but Demarai Gray scored a stunning equaliser in the 64th minute to ensure that the Toffees came away from the Etihad with a hard-fought point.
Guardiola's side remain in second place in the top-flight standings and have missed the chance to close in on league leaders Arsenal, who will end 2022 seven points clear if they beat Brighton & Hove Albion in the evening kickoff.
After winning each of their opening seven Premier League home matches this term, City have since failed to win their last two top-flight fixtures at the Etihad, including the 2-1 defeat against Brentford before the World Cup.
Although Guardiola has admitted that dropping points on home soil is 'tough to take', the Spaniard has been impressed with his side's performances since the World Cup break and was expecting a difficult challenge against Everton.
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"We played a really good game. The approach from Liverpool and Leeds is quite different to Everton, but we played a really good game," Guardiola told reporters via mancity.com after the match. "They made a fantastic goal with the shot on target they had.
"I said they are going to play like Brentford with long balls and transitions. We weren't well set, and Gray made a fantastic goal so congratulations to them.
"It's difficult when they have nine men (behind the ball) but it's our way to play. We had a chance in the last minute in the first half and second half. I cannot expect a million chances when they play that way."
Guardiola added: "The result was not expected, but it's football. We did everything to win. The referees break the rhythm, but in general we did everything. It's the Premier League. It's a strategy for the opponent and if the referee doesn't intervene, I can't affect the referee.
"It will be tough but since we came back from the World Cup we have played so well."
John Stones, who played the full 90 minutes and hit the post with a first-half header, concurred with Guardiola and has encouraged his City teammates to take to positives from their draw with Everton.
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"I don't really know what to say. I feel like we've lost two points," Stones told reporters. "That's football. We controlled the game for the majority of the time and had a lot of chances but couldn't seem to get that goal.
"I'm very pleased with how we played. The result doesn't reflect that. When the game is so disrupted, a lot of time-wasting, that was part of the plan and we had to deal with that.
"We did and kept creating chances but it didn't come off. We have to take the positives. We had to go for it after that and go for as many players high up the pitch as possible.
"We definitely did that and had some great chances to win the game at the end. At the other end, it gets overshadowed how we defended.
"We conceded two shots all game but it's overlooked because of that incredible goal. On reflection we'll be more positive when we look back I'm sure."
Man City will look to bounce back with three points in their first game of 2023 when they travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on January 5.
Oliver Thomas
