Manchester City suffered their first disappointing result since Saturday, following another painful afternoon for Pep Guardiola.
The English champions at least arrested a slide of three straight defeats, to take a point from this mediocre clash with Everton. But when gaining a draw is viewed as some sort of positive, it shows just how far the might of Manchester have fallen.
Because it's now blindingly obvious City have forgotten how to win matches. Guardiola's flops took the lead through Bernardo Silva, and should have gone ahead again despite Iliman Ndaiye's superb equaliser.
But Erling Haaland, of all people, missed a second half penalty to leave City nursing a remarkable run of just one win in the last 13 games. During this time there has been Halloween, Bonfire Night and now Christmas.
But City have had nothing to celebrate, following a car-crash of a calendar that's included one humiliation after another. Guardiola has not been helped by some cruel luck with injuries.
Erling Haaland of Manchester City looks dejected after missing a penalty against Everton
Erling Haaland of Manchester City looks dejected after missing a penalty against Everton
Once again he was missing some big names, including Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish, Ederson and Rodri, while Kevin De Bruyne started on the bench.
Everton, meanwhile, came to Manchester with confidence, having gone three games unbeaten without conceding a goal. But the Toffees could have gone behind inside three minutes, when Josko Gvardiol met Phil Foden's cross only to see his header come back of the post.
But the visitors were not so lucky 12 minutes later when City went ahead. Jeremy Doku waltzed down the right before picking out Silva, whose shot on the slide clipped the boot of Jarrad Branthwaite before looping past Jordan Pickford.
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It was the worst possible start for Sean Dyche's men, who had failed to score in nine of their 17 league games this season. But the Toffees gave City a taste of what was to come when Orel Mangala curled a shot wide, before Idrissa Gueye stung the palms of Stefan Ortega with a long range effort.
And after Silva had blown a golden chance to double City's lead, the visitors punished them by equalising before half time. Once again City's porous defence was to blame, when Manuel Akanji and Rico Lewis failed to cut out a cross from Abdoulaye Doucoure, allowing Ndaiye to pounce at the far post with a brilliant finish.
Pep Guardiola can't find an answer for Manchester City's miserable run of form
Pep Guardiola can't find an answer for Manchester City's miserable run of form
Pickford denied Savinho with a fine save, before Mateo Kovacic shot wide as City looked to regain control. Which Everton tried to help them do five minutes into the second half, when Vitaliy Mykolenko wiped out Savinho to concede a penalty.
But in keeping with recent events, Haaland saw Pickford save his effort from the spot. The visitors grew in confidence and Doucoure shot just wide, while Dominic Calvert- Lewin's control betrayed him to ruin a clear run on goal.
Then Mangala saw his effort deflect just wide. And in the final moments of stoppage time the Toffees broke from deep and had a four on two, but when the ball arrived with Jack Harrison he dithered too long, and the chance to steal victory had gone.