Late Doku Strike Earns Manchester City Draw as Title Race Swings Toward Arsenal

Manchester City kept its Premier League title hopes alive with a dramatic 3-3 draw against Everton, as Jérémy Doku scored a stoppage-time equalizer on Monday to deny the home side a crucial win.

The result halted City’s run of three straight victories and left the defending champions five points behind leaders Arsenal. Although City still holds a game in hand, the outcome shifted momentum toward the London club, which now has three matches remaining in its push for the title.

City dominated possession in the first half but struggled to create clear chances. The breakthrough came in the 42nd minute when Doku found space in a crowded penalty area and curled in a precise strike to give the visitors the lead.

Everton responded strongly after the break, turning the match around with three goals in a 13-minute spell. Substitute Thierno Barry capitalized on a misplaced back pass to level the score, slipping the ball past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Shortly after, Jake O’Brien headed in from a corner delivered by James Garner to put Everton ahead.

Barry struck again in the 81st minute after a deflection fell kindly to him, extending Everton’s lead to 3-1 and putting the hosts in control. The result appeared secure as some City supporters began to leave the stadium.

The momentum shifted again late in the match when Erling Haaland surged forward to score his 25th goal of the season, narrowing the deficit. City pressed forward in search of an equalizer, and deep into stoppage time, Doku delivered a curling effort to level the match with almost the final kick.

The draw was a setback for Everton, which is aiming for a European qualification spot. A win would have lifted the club closer to seventh place, but instead it remained in 10th, level on points with Fulham and Chelsea.

Earlier in the day, Chelsea’s difficult season continued with a 3-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest. Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice and won a penalty converted by Igor Jesus, helping Forest move closer to securing its Premier League status.

Chelsea’s only goal came from Joao Pedro in stoppage time, ending a long scoring drought in the league. The defeat marked a sixth consecutive loss, leaving the London club’s hopes of Champions League qualification hanging by a thread.

The latest results leave the title race and European qualification battle finely poised as the Premier League season approaches its final weeks.