Considering Everton's recent record against Manchester City, a point at the Etihad isn't that unheard of.

City had won 13 of their past 15 games against Everton and were last defeated at home in 2010, yet their Boxing Day draw was their fourth in nine seasons. The Toffees may not often win, but they can be difficult to be beaten.

Usually, it defies the logic of football though. There was the game in October 2016 where City missed two penalties, or the match in August 2017 that was so one-sided Pep Guardiola locked himself in his office after the game wondering how they were ever going to turn a domination of possession and chances into consistent victories.

READ MORE: Man City already have the gamechanger they want to sign in January

READ MORE: Grealish, Ake, Walker - Man City injury latest and return dates as Pep Guardiola given fresh problem

There was even a draw in the Treble season, Frank Lampard becoming the last manager that year to leave the Etihad with points in a game where Erling Haaland played right on the edge in a physical battle with his defenders. City may not have been at their best at any point, yet it still felt like Everton got away with a point.

On Thursday, the Merseysiders were disappointed not to have left with three. Seamus Coleman and Sean Dyche both praised the status of City as serial champions yet the reflections on the game could not be denied.

"I think we could have got all three of course with a few breakaways that we had," Coleman said. "But to come here and get a point to think they're positive regardless of where people tell you they are because they're still full of top quality players, an unbelievable manager, one of the best that's ever done it.

"So it's always going to be a tough game and I think the lads' legs at the end on that breakaway were shattered from the shift they put in."

It may have felt unfair if Everton had won the game, but at the same time with the break they had in injury time there could have been no complaints from City had they turned another winning position into a defeat. And that is the damning position they are in, six weeks since they boasted a record of no home defeats in over two years, where every side now thinks they can beat them on their own turf.

West Ham are next up at the Etihad after City's trip to Leicester, and Guardiola's side need to start making teams fear them again if they are going to get back the advantage they have lost.