Manchester City Have No Need to Worry After 3 Games Without a Win

The disappointment among the Manchester City fans at the full-time whistle on Saturday was palpable. City drew 1-1 with Everton, their third game in succession without a win, having missed two penalties and failed to turn their dominant possession statistics into goals.

Everton sat deep and set themselves up to defend, and City couldn’t come up with the answers to break them down.

They remain top of the Premier League table, but Arsenal are level on points, with a group of other teams putting pressure on just behind. Some of City’s weaknesses have been exposed during their last three matches, and it’s clear manager Pep Guardiola is still some way off fine-tuning his side to his liking. The dissenting voices suggesting City have been "found out" are growing.

But talk of a crisis is absurd. City, for the most part, played well against Everton—their passing and movement was excellent for the majority of the game. They were sharp and inventive, dominating possession and pinning Ronald Koeman’s men in their own half.

Everton defended heroically, and in goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, they had the best player on the pitch. There wasn’t a lot wrong with City’s approach, and the visitors deserve credit for standing firm and leaving with an unlikely point.

City enjoyed 72 per cent possession. They had 19 shots to Everton’s three and won 13 corners in one of the most one-sided games you’re likely to see in this season’s Premier League. It was like an attack vs. defence training drill at times. Quite how the Toffees escaped with their point is a mystery.

"

Masterful @21LVA!

Every touch from the Spaniard's #cityvefc performance 🎥 https://t.co/VoTGSbap6J #mcfc pic.twitter.com/sdoJrYeYuj

— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 16, 2016"

"They are the best team I have come across in my managerial career," Koeman said after the game. It was the highest possible praise—but reasonable given the dominant performance City delivered.

Ilkay Gundogan controlled the tempo of the game, David Silva was constantly demanding the ball and knitting City’s play together and Kevin De Bruyne, returning from a two-game absence through injury, was influential.

Leroy Sane, who has been eased into English football, started a Premier League game for the first time and was superb in the first half, giving Bryan Oviedo a torrid time with his twisting and turning and desire to run at the full-back at pace. There were plenty of positives for Guardiola.

"

My 1st @premierleague game in the starting line-up 👍But not the final result we wanted to have. Let's continue the hard work 🙏⚽#LS19 #inSané pic.twitter.com/vboXAYgcPj

— Leroy Sané (@LeroySane19) October 15, 2016"

City’s two failed penalties felt crucial. Sergio Aguero, who missed the second, has failed to score from the spot on four separate occasions for club and country this season. He will surely be removed from spot-kick duties for the foreseeable future. City have been awarded eight penalties this season and have missed four, an appalling record that cannot be ignored.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

The Argentinian started the game on the bench, an acknowledgement of his international exertions in what was a tough break, both mentally and physically, for the striker. Kelechi Iheanacho started in his place, but the Nigerian failed to deliver. He deserved his start for his continued excellence whenever called upon, but he just couldn’t influence the game in the way we know he can and was replaced 10 minutes into the second half.

Having been on the back foot for much of the game, the visitors opened the scoring, Romelu Lukaku producing a superb finish after a quick break from inside the Everton half. Yannick Bolasie delivered an impudent first-time flick into Lukaku’s path, and the Belgian strode confidently toward the City goal, turned Gael Clichy inside and out and finished expertly low into the bottom corner.

Lukaku has scored six times in his last five Premier League games—and now has 127 career goals. It’s a remarkable record for a 23-year-old.

City hit back through substitute Nolito, who headed home from Silva’s pinpoint cross. Nolito has been a revelation since his £13 million move from Celta Vigo in the summer and quietly become a key player. He isn’t blessed with great pace, but he’s comfortable with both feet, sees the game with clarity and almost always takes the right option.

"

The team played well today, no doubt about that. Thanks for the support, let's go again midweek. #ManCity #KeepGoing

— Vincent Kompany (@VincentKompany) October 15, 2016"

Silva has provided more Premier League assists than any other player in the competition since his debut in 2010 (59) and continues to provide City with wonderful moments of creativity and individual brilliance.

“We came with two game plans,” Koeman said afterward. “I spoke with my technical staff before the game, and I said that knowing Pep, we need to expect three defenders. That is how it turned out, and it meant we put three strikers up front so we could play one-on-one. If we win balls or second balls, we can be very dangerous, but after 20 minutes, we had not even seen the ball."

"

🎥 | "We had great defending and great organisation in our team." - @RonaldKoeman​ on the 1-1 draw with @ManCity​ and Stekelenburg's heroics. pic.twitter.com/53HZ6thaml

— Everton (@Everton) October 15, 2016"

The Everton manager continued: "City played fantastic football, good movement, really high tempo and high pressing, but because of our defensive organisation, they could not create really open chances. I would say they are the best team I have come across in my managerial career. Maybe we were a bit lucky, with the goalkeeper playing his best game ever.”

Stekelenburg became only the eighth goalkeeper to save two penalties in the same Premier League match. However, it was his stops from Aguero and De Bruyne in open play that impressed the most, one with each hand. The Dutchman was in inspired form and deserves to take a large slice of credit for his side’s point.

"We did absolutely everything,” Guardiola said. “Everton created just one chance, which was a goal. I'm a little bit sad and disappointed for the players. But it's a big compliment to Everton and Ronald Koeman, so I say to them 'well done.'"

City face Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Wednesday for their third Champions League group-stage game of the season. Guardiola, a former player and manager of the Catalan giants, said they are capable of overwhelming sides and denying them the ball.

"

Big point against Man City! Great to see you again / Qué bueno verte de nuevo, Pep. #EFC #Everton pic.twitter.com/R0ov1SLP7u

— Ronald Koeman (@RonaldKoeman) October 15, 2016"

"For the last decade, the last 50 years, Barcelona have dominated football matches," Guardiola said. "I love the way they play.

"They have three amazing players—Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar—up front. They are amazing on the counter-attack. They have a good buildup. They are a good team."

It'll be the toughest test of Guardiola's reign so far. After the cautious approach of Everton, Barca's open, attacking style will provide a different challenge—but one that may suit them better.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and follows the club from a Manchester base. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.