Match ends, Manchester City 1, Everton 1.
Raheem Sterling's volley salvaged a point for 10-man Manchester City as Everton were denied victory on the night Wayne Rooney scored his 200th Premier League goal.
City were up against it when Rooney's strike was followed by Kyle Walker's dismissal after two quick bookings just 44 minutes into his home debut.
But Pep Guardiola's side showed belief and spirit to avoid only their second home defeat under the Spaniard.
Rooney looked to have given Everton victory when he slid Dominic Calvert-Lewin's square pass between City keeper Ederson's legs from eight yards.
And the Toffees' cause was helped when England full-back Walker collided with Leighton Baines and was then booked again, rather harshly, for catching Calvert-Lewin in the face as they competed for a high ball.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, the home side continued to press after the break and were rewarded when Sterling fired in Mason Holgate's weak defensive header.
Everton also finished with 10 men when midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin was shown a second yellow card, again, rather harshly, for catching Sergio Aguero late.
- Relive the action from Etihad Stadium
- Football Daily: Two red cards cause a stir
- Listen: 'Rooney may not want England return'
Rooney haunts City... again
Rooney became only the second player to score 200 Premier League goals - after former Blackburn and Newcastle striker Alan Shearer - when he put the visitors ahead after 35 minutes.
The 31-year-old former Manchester United forward cupped his ears in front of the home fans as he celebrated his second goal in two league matches since rejoining Everton.
Perhaps it was no surprise Rooney netted the landmark goal at Etihad Stadium, having also scored his 50th and 150th Premier League goals against United's neighbours.
However, the ease with which City's new £35m keeper Ederson allowed his first-time shot in was more of a surprise.
"It is a good contact from Rooney, but you have to say it went straight at Ederson," said former Toffees and United defender Phil Neville on BBC Radio 5 live. "You have to expect your keeper to save it."
Rooney, who scored his first top-flight goal as a 16-year-old for the Toffees against Arsenal in October 2002, hit the double century in his 462nd league match in front of his former Red Devils managers Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho.
Ultimately, the England international did not prove to be the match-winner like he was against Stoke last weekend - but he was still smiling at the final whistle as the early part of his Everton return continues to be fruitful.
"It was nice with my history with Manchester United - and to do it in such an important game for us and so early in the season, it was a sweet moment," said Rooney.
"I'm sure the red half of Manchester will have enjoyed it as well."
'Next question' - Guardiola refuses to discuss Walker red
City manager Guardiola was all smiles as he walked onto the pitch arm-in-arm with Rooney at the full-time whistle - but his demeanour quickly changed as he approached referee Bobby Madley and his assistants.
Madley was the focus of City's ire after showing a questionable second yellow card to Walker, who appeared to back into Calvert-Lewin with his shoulder rather than raise an elbow - and boos from the home supporters accompanied his walk back to the tunnel.
Guardiola remonstrated with fourth official Michael Oliver on the touchline as Walker walked off, then appeared to sarcastically clap Madley at the end after shaking his hand.
He refused to discuss Walker's red card when asked about it in a post-match television interview. "Next question," he said.
It is not the first time questions about refereeing decisions have led to spiky exchanges between Guardiola and reporters.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss raised concerns about English referees last season, saying they "conduct games differently" from those in Spain and Germany.
However, Sterling offered more of an insight into the feelings inside the City camp afterwards.
"We felt decisions like those cost us a lot of points last season," the England winger said. "I didn't see it as a second booking and I thought it was unfair."
City eventually find a way past stubborn Everton
City, after finishing 15 points behind champions Chelsea in third place, have spent £215m on new players this summer as they look to win the Premier League title for the first time since 2014.
Everton have been the other big spenders, shelling out £140m themselves in order to try to break into the top four.
The vast amount of money spent by both clubs set up an intriguing early season encounter, but the key thread of the game remained the same as last season - Everton came to frustrate; City struggled to break them down.
This was a common theme in Guardiola's first season, as away teams arrived at the Etihad content to defend and leave with a point.
While only losing once in front of their own fans, City racked up seven draws and their 40 points earned was only the sixth best home record in the top flight.
All was going smoothly at the start of Guardiola's reign - until Everton turned up in October.
City had 19 shots and 72% possession as the stubborn Toffees left with a 1-1 draw last season, providing a blueprint of how to frustrate the hosts which was successfully followed by Southampton, Middlesbrough and Stoke.
Everton tried to implement the same tactic in a disciplined and almost perfect away performance. For 82 minutes, they largely managed to do that as City were restricted to just David Silva's first-half shot against the post and a wild strike over the bar by Sterling.
Eventually City's pressure told as a poor header by young full-back Holgate - who otherwise had an excellent game on the right - fell for Sterling to convert from 12 yards.
Man of the match - Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton)
Not a happy 200th for Walker - the stats
- City defender Walker's two yellow cards were just one minute and 57 seconds apart.
- It was Walker's first Premier League red card in his 200th appearance in the competition.
- Everton are the first team Guardiola has failed to beat in his first three league meetings as a manager.
- Everton named eight English players in their starting XI - the first time they have had as many in a Premier League game since 26 December 1997.
- Sterling's goal was the first Everton have let in this season, having gone 441 minutes without conceding before the 82nd-minute strike.
- Sterling has scored in 11 different Premier League games for City, but this was the first time he has netted in one they did not win.
- Aguero has now failed to score in his past seven Premier League appearances against Everton.
What's next?
City, who won at Brighton on the opening weekend, go to Bournemouth on Saturday (12:30 BST) looking for their second win of the season on the south coast.
Everton switch their attention to the Europa League, going to Hajduk Split on Thursday with a 2-0 first-leg advantage as they aim to reach the group stage.
The Toffees return to Premier League action with a trip to champions Chelsea on Sunday (13:30 BST).
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 3-1-4-2
- 31Ederson
- 4KompanyBooked at 78mins
- 5StonesSubstituted forDaniloat 65'minutes
- 30Otamendi
- 25Fernandinho
- 2WalkerBooked at 44mins
- 21Silva
- 17De Bruyne
- 19SanéSubstituted forBernardo Silvaat 69'minutes
- 10Agüero
- 33Gabriel JesusSubstituted forSterlingat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Bravo
- 3Danilo
- 7Sterling
- 15Mangala
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 42Y Touré
- 47Foden
Everton
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Pickford
- 4Keane
- 5WilliamsSubstituted forKlaassenat 61'minutes
- 6Jagielka
- 30Holgate
- 26DaviesBooked at 24minsSubstituted forG Sigurdssonat 61'minutes
- 17Gueye
- 2SchneiderlinBooked at 88mins
- 3Baines
- 29Calvert-Lewin
- 10RooneyBooked at 84minsSubstituted forBesicat 90'minutes
Substitutes
- 11Mirallas
- 15Martina
- 18G Sigurdsson
- 20Klaassen
- 21Besic
- 22Stekelenburg
- 31Lookman
- Referee:
- Robert Madley
- Attendance:
- 54,009
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home65%
- Away35%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away2
- Corners
- Home7
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester City 1, Everton 1.
Post update
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Davy Klaassen.
Substitution
Substitution, Everton. Muhamed Besic replaces Wayne Rooney.
Post update
.
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Morgan Schneiderlin (Everton) for a bad foul.
Post update
Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Morgan Schneiderlin (Everton).
Booking
Wayne Rooney (Everton) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Wayne Rooney (Everton).
Goal!
Goal! Manchester City 1, Everton 1. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
Post update
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Wayne Rooney (Everton).
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Attempt saved. Wayne Rooney (Everton) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gylfi Sigurdsson with a cross.
Booking
Vincent Kompany (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Vincent Kompany (Manchester City).
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt saved. Danilo (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.
Post update
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Michael Keane.
Comments
Join the conversation
Chelsea could learn a thing or 2 from them, the English champions fielding no English players, it's embarrassing.
Not so easy without Messi is it ?
Well played Rooney.
@2 You are either a City fan or completely blind - Schneiderlin's sending off was farcical, Walker was daft to go hurtling in seconds after getting a booking.
But I have to say, Ederson is looking every inch the successor to Claudio Bravo. The handling for that first goal was class.
On the other hand Everton played well
What a joke citeh and heir bean headed overrated manager are. No matter how many gazillions this moron is allowed to spend they are still completely useless.
Everton fully deserving the point and the young lad up front was awesome. What Walker was thinking elbowing him in the face is beyond me.
Let's get rid of Pep asap this league deserves better.
City need to do better if they want to win the title, it looks like they're really struggling to figure out their best team.
Well done to Everton's scouting team, who clearly did their research well and helped them set up in a way that neutralised City's threat.