Glass half-full or half-empty for Everton?published at 16:05 26 December
16:05 26 December
Shamoon Hafez BBC Sport football news reporter
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Everton had kept three straight clean sheets coming into the Manchester City game and although their backline was breached, they have now managed credible consecutive draws against Arsenal,Chelsea and here against City.
Whether their glass is half-full or half-empty at present depends on perspective.
Boss Sean Dyche will point to his side being difficult to beat, having lost only two of their past 13 top-flight matches - but on the other hand, they have won only three of their 17 games so far this season.
This draw leaves them in 15th place, edging five points clear of the relegation zone, and it came through Ndiaye's exquisite effort, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the travelling supporters.
They could have snatched it late on when Orel Mangala's deflected strike wrong-footed Stefan Ortega but the ball drifted the wrong side of the post, leaving Everton the happier side with the result but without a victory against City in their past 16 meetings.
'I am pleased with the performance and the point'published at 15:22 26 December
15:22 26 December
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Sean Dyche spoke to Amazon Prime after Everton's draw against Manchester City: "I was worried about coming here today because it will change, at some point they will hurt someone, but I felt we handled it well - the underlying feeling that they will pull a result out of the bag at some point.
"Great energy from the players. We saved the penalty and Jordan [Pickford] and the analysis team deserve credit.
"Jordan made a lot of good decisions today.
"There's no easy run in the Premier League and you have to be committed to the cause for all of them [upcoming games].
"I am pleased overall with the performance and getting a point."
On transfer window: "We still have a PSR, no PSR problem but we still have the rules and regulations. It has been a tough process since I've been at the club, selling more than I buy. It has been a tough challenge."
'We could have got three points but we are happy with one'published at 15:03 26 December
15:03 26 December
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Everton defender Seamus Coleman spoke to BBC Sport after Thursday's draw against Manchester City: "It was always going to be tough shift coming here. They might not be in the best of form, but Manchester City have a side full of good players. Going 1-0 down wasn't easy, but we showed the spirit we had in the group at the moment.
"They have top players and an unbelievable manager. But they are going through a tough time and we felt it was opportunity today to come away with a point. In the end, we could have got the three points but we are very happy with the point."
On Iliman Ndiaye: "He is capable of lot. He is very talented and very good in the dressing room as well. He has unbelievable work ethic. He has that star quality and he's doing very well with the help of others around him. I think he can still keep improving as well.
On Everton's impressive run: "People would have looked at the fixtures and would have thought Everton have a tough December. We played Wolves at home and we won there comfortably. We then carried that togetherness through. Getting a point here may be better than the three points at home because we had to really work hard and dig in."
Did you know?published at 14:48 26 December
14:48 26 December
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Jordan Pickford saved his seventh Premier League penalty with Everton, the joint most for the club along with Tim Howard. In Premier League history, only Brad Friedel at Blackburn (10) and Jussi Jaaskelainen with Bolton (nine) have more penalty saves with one club.
Sutton's predictions: Man City v Evertonpublished at 08:55 26 December
08:55 26 December
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.
This week, he takes on Eats Everything, aka DJ and producer Daniel Pearce.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
Manchester City are finding everything difficult at the moment, including creating chances and scoring goals, but I still think it is just a matter of time until they come good again - they have to.
There is so much noise around City at the moment, about what is going wrong, but this is still a game they should win.
Everton have kept clean sheets in five of their past six games, but they got thumped the last time they came to Manchester - at the start of December, when they lost 4-0 to Manchester United.
I think they will lose at Etihad Stadium too.
Eats Everything's prediction: 2-0
Everton have been drawing a lot but they have not seen much of the ball - they had less than 25% of possession against Chelsea and Arsenal - and it is going to be the same story here. Arsenal battered them really, just without scoring, and although City have been struggling I still think they will find a way through.
Man City v Everton: Did you know?published at 08:31 26 December
08:31 26 December
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Everton have won just one of their past 22 Premier League meetings with Manchester City (D5 L16), losing 12 of the past 13.
Gossip: Toffees want Pickford to retire at the clubpublished at 08:11 26 December
08:11 26 December
Everton are preparing to offer goalkeeper Jordan Pickford a new deal which will keep the 30-year-old at the club for the rest of his career. (TBR Football), external
What's Christmas like for a player?published at 20:22 24 December
20:22 24 December
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For me, wherever I played, I'd always see where the first game was, where the last game was, and where we were at Christmas.
There is such a big difference between being at home on Boxing Day versus being away because, depending on what your manager is like, if you've got an away game there is a chance you're training on Christmas Day.
Some of the toughest times I had was when we had away games on Boxing Day and we had to come in to train at four or five on Christmas. That's when everything is just starting at home and everyone is really enjoying themselves and you have to leave.
If you lose you are sat in the hotel having walked away from friends and family all for no points. It's not the best feeling and as a consequence you bring home some of that disappointment with you.
But, in reality, you just know it is the busiest time of the year. The floodlights are always on for the games, the conditions get that little bit tougher, you've got games it feels like every three or four days.
I think it's an exciting part of the season because you can gain real, significant momentum but ultimately it comes down to are you winning games.
I think the Christmas period itself can be tough if you have got family but in reality it always feels nicer when you get that win on Boxing Day. The atmosphere in the stadiums is a little bit different, the atmosphere among the players is a bit different.
You're very thankful to get the chance to do what you do, but if you end up losing on Boxing Day or around that spell it is rubbish because it almost feels like it was a waste of time with all the efforts you put in.
But, I get it. The fans love it, there is a lot of clamour around it. You lose track of days just like everyone else does after Christmas and before New Year but it is great to play in front of those types of crowds and it just does feel different playing during that week or two.
Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward
My moment of the yearpublished at 15:37 24 December
15:37 24 December
Mike Richards Fan writer
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It has been 12 months of ups and downs, with anxiety very much the order of the year.
From the ownership issues, battles with the Premier League and, at times, horrendous run of results, finding a real standout moment isn't easy.
Amid the doom and gloom, two are worth of the accolade - one on the pitch and the other off it.
It is not very often you win three games in six days, and even less so when one of those is against your most bitter of rivals.
When Dominic Calvert-Lewin rose highest against Liverpool in April to score our second goal of the Merseyside derby, I'm not sure I've heard noise like it for many a year.
It was goosebump inspiring, spine tingling and ground-shakingly loud.
A moment deserving of remembrance and will forever hold a special place, especially as we reach the dying embers of our final season at Goodison Park.
Thursday of last week has to be my off-field moment of the year.
Getting the confirmation that the Farhad Moshiri era was over and we were financially secure once again brought about a sense of relief I never thought possible.
Those who have not lived the past few years that Evertonians have will not truly understand what new ownership means for us.
Our club was close to the brink. A financial wreck. Our future looked worse than bleak.
This new hope we now have is something I feel we all deserve. It is more than earned.
Thanks to The Friedkin Group and the Fourth Grace on the banks of the Mersey, our club has the opportunity to thrive and compete once again.
Dyche on McNeil's fitness, transfers and Friedkin 'stability'published at 16:32 23 December
16:32 23 December
Nat Hayward BBC Sport journalist
Everton boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Boxing Day's Premier League game at Manchester City (12:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Ashley Young's neck injury "should settle down quite quickly" but he is suspended for Saturday anyway and Dwight McNeil is still "touch and go" though Dyche thinks "probably not for this one".
Tim Iroegbunam and James Tarkowski are "still a little bit away" but are "getting back on the grass".
Dyche believes last week's takeover has already impacted the feel around the club: "There was a good atmosphere before the game against Chelsea around the stadium. When things are uncertain people don't like that. The Friedkin Group have bought some stability. That is a start point."
He clarified his comments on Profit and Sustainability Rules in relation to the January transfer window: "What I mean is there is still guidelines. It doesn't mean there is any trouble there. There are rules every club have to stay inside of. It is not specific, there is no trouble or anything like that. There just will not be endless money for every situation. There is no problem."
Discussing whether additions are expected, Dyche said: "It is still going to be tough. The guidelines and what the club are suggesting - we will still have to be quite guarded. We can't throw money but I don't think this group will do that anyway. They want to build something. Their words are stability."
On opponents Manchester City and their recent difficult run: "When the details are not right, things don't work even for the top teams. It's unlikely Pep [Guardiola] has had many spells like this and it happens even to the best and he is the best ever. For him to have a testing period shows how tough the game is and for the top sides to stay at the very top."
'There is a feeling of stability again'published at 15:04 23 December
15:04 23 December
Ian Kennedy BBC Radio Merseyside reporter
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Although draws do not propel you up the table very far, the points gained against Arsenal and Chelsea - both with clean sheets - can be viewed as excellent results.
If Everton can get something at Manchester City on 26 December, they will have navigated a particularly tough run of fixtures admirably. That said, the fixtures after Boxing Day are tough too, but that is the Premier League for you.
Defensively, Everton are sound - five clean sheets in the past six games. Clearly they need goals now, but given the quality of the opposition recently, it has been a good run.
The return of Armando Broja will be a big boost in that regard. He just needs a run in the side now and will add to the Blues' striking threat.
The Boxing Day game is fascinating. Everton will need all of that defensive solidity because, despite recent form, City are still a formidable threat - home or away.
But, with the takeover now in place too, there is a feeling of stability again, which Sean Dyche's side will hope they can feed off in the coming weeks.
'Two of the best crossers I've seen'published at 14:44 23 December
14:44 23 December
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BBC Chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.
G, the Evertonian asked: Hi Phil, Gary Neville said Trent Alexander-Arnold was one of the bests crossers of a ball in Premier League history. Who would you rate as top? I think Trent Alexander-Arnold is the best with mentions to Beckham, Shearer, Baines and De Bruyne.
Phil answered: Afternoon, G: I think Alan Shearer was more of a beneficiary of crosses than a crosser himself but all the others are very worthy of mention. I'd go with Beckham and Alexander-Arnold with not much between them. In fact I'm thinking De Bruyne as well now!
You mention you are an Evertonian. I don't know if you are old enough to remember Dave Thomas in the late 70s team but he was as good as I have seen – left foot, right foot, on the run, standing start, set pieces. If you are not old enough, ask someone about him.
'Brighter times ahead' - Begovicpublished at 13:12 23 December
13:12 23 December
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Former Everton goalkeeper Asmir Begovic says there are "definitely brighter times ahead" after the takeover of the club by The Friedkin Group was finally confirmed last week.
The takeover has prompted Everton fan groups to look forward with "hope and optimism" after a chaotic nine-year period under British-Iranian businessman Farhad Mosihiri.
"A lot can change in a short space of time in football, and I think the last couple of weeks have been a lot more positive than maybe before," Begovic told BBC World Service's Sportsworld.
"I think the fact that we've picked up a couple of really good results and good performances and then you have the news of the new ownership group coming here and the positivity - I think more than anything it hopefully brings stability.
"I think there's always been a level of uncertainty for everyone involved in the club, not just the players, but the staff, the support staff.
"Definitely brighter times ahead, hopefully, but I know for myself as a player and being involved with the team it's all about making sure we try and keep those performances and results going for now.
"Then, I'm sure everything else will take care of itself."
Everton 0-0 Chelsea - the fans' verdictpublished at 10:42 23 December
10:42 23 December
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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Everton and Chelsea.
Here are some of your comments:
Everton fans
Neil: Another good point against a top side. There was nothing too exciting at times but we also had chances to win it. The final third remains a big issue, although there are signs it is improving.
Ron: It's not a result that will live long in the memory, but we have managed to take a point from Arsenal and a point from Chelsea. If 0-0 draws keep us from an end of season relegation scrap, I'm happy with it.
Jeff: Some might say that it is a valuable point against a top team - just like last week against Arsenal - but don't forget we lost three very expensive points to Southampton. Points-wise, I would rather have lost against Arsenal and Chelsea and beaten Southampton. Football-wise, it is getting very boring. The fifth 0-0 of the season. Next time I'm bringing a book to the match.
Ged: Chuffed. Dyche-ball will keep us up. The manager has helped the club weather one of the worst periods in recent history. I don't care about possession stats, he deserves a medal. We need to get through the Manchester City game, who knows what will happen there, and then it's onwards and upwards.
Chelsea fans
Mathew: Good point on the road. Robert Sanchez and Tosin Adarabioyo played really well for us. I also thought Pedro Neto played well and was a threat for us when going forward. It was a shame to see Nicolas Jackson's chance hit the post. Overall, I'm happy with the clean sheet. Now on to our Boxing Day match against Fulham.
Karl: This was the first time where there was some expectancy on us. We coped much better physically than we did last season in this fixture but, overall, we didn't do enough and could have lost it. So, for me, it's a point gained rather than two dropped.
Jeff: I'm very disappointed because of Chelsea's recent winning streak that they didn't win. I was expecting a lot more against this team - but well done, Everton. We could have tasted top spot.
Shaun: We have been getting carried away after a handful of good performances. This is a better reflection of where we are right now.
Cuthbert: The coach should be brave enough to pull Cole Palmer out, and not just Nicolas Jackson, when he is out of form. We have enough depth on the bench to rotate up front and win matches. We will face even more difficult teams, especially the top six, hence options should be there ready to break defences.
Catch up on the Premier League actionpublished at 07:23 23 December
07:23 23 December
Highlights and analysis from Sunday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.
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