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Manchester City held by Everton in stormy stalemate at the Etihad

Everton’s Morgan Schneiderlin reacts after a challenge on Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero
Everton’s Morgan Schneiderlin reacts after a challenge on Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero

Raheem Sterling came off the bench to rescue a point for Manchester City in a fiery draw with Everton that saw both sides finish the game with 10 men.

Wayne Rooney’s 200th Premier League goal appeared to have given the Toffees three points and a red card to Kyle Walker only strengthened their position.

But Sterling made his mark with an excellent volley before another questionable refereeing decision led to Morgan Schneiderlin also given his marching orders.

City pushed hard for a late winner and only some terrific Everton defending denied them victory in their first home game of the season.

Gylfi Sigurdsson had to settle for a place on the Everton bench after completing his protracted move from Swansea.

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There was a late change to the Manchester City line-up as Leroy Sane was curiously selected a left wing-back at the expense of summer signing Danilo.

Sane’s first instincts are to get forward an attack given his preference to play in a more advanced role and the Toffees spotted a chance to exploit this area.

City did probe in the first half and were unfortunate not to find themselves ahead when David Silva rattled the post after good work from Sergio Aguero.

However, it was Ronald Koeman’s team who opened the scoring and it was no surprise to see the move start down Sane’s side of the pitch.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin picked out Rooney superbly and the England striker continued his fine record against City by sliding it past Ederson.

The former Manchester United captain loves banging them in at the Etihad and kept that run going to give his old boss Jose Mourinho something to smile about.

Mourinho was just one of a number of famous football faces in the crowd as he was spotted along with Sir Alex Ferguson and Gareth Southgate.

England boss Soutgate was keeping a close eye on several stars but would not have been impressed with £50million man Walker’s discipline.

The world’s most expensive full-back was shown two yellow cards in quick succession to leave City with 10 men heading into the half-time break.

Referee Bobby Madley bore the brunt of the supporter’s frustrations as he trudged off and the second booking did look harsh in fairness.

Pep Guardiola acted during the interval and Gabriel Jesus was replaced by Sterling to add another body into the midfield.

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Everton were not going to give City an easy ride though, not with a mean looking defence containing Phil Jagielka, Ashley Williams and Michael Keane.

The home side were always going to dominate the possession, as is the Guardiola way, but Koeman’s solid side dug in to frustrate the title hopefuls.

Jordan Pickford, another player out to impress Three Lions chief Southgate, also caught the eye with a fingertip save to keep out substitute Danilo’s drive.

But there was nothing he could do to stop Sterling’s wonderful equaliser as he put his laces through a dropping ball and smashed it into the bottom corner.

Less than 10 minutes to go at the Etihad and it was all to play for. The 10 men in City shirts suddenly looked like a swarm of 20 as they pushed for a winner.

Schneiderlin’s late red card added to the drama, with Madley again looking to have made an officiating error, but Guardiola’s team couldn’t take advantage.

Manchester City: Ederson, Kompany, Stones, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Walker, De Bruyne, Silva, Sane, Aguero, Gabriel Jesus.

Subs: Bravo, Danilo, Sterling, Mangala, Bernardo Silva, Toure, Foden.

Everton: Pickford, Keane, Williams, Jagielka, Holgate, Schneiderlin, Gueye, Baines, Calvert-Lewin, Davies, Rooney.

Subs: Mirallas, Martina, Sigurdsson, Klaassen, Besic, Stekelenburg, Lookman.

Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire)