David Moyes offers his reaction to Everton's 3-3 draw with Manchester City at Hill Dickinson Stadium and where it leaves their hopes of qualifying for Europe
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 4: Everton manager David Moyes looks frustrated as he applauds the fans at the end of the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester City at Hill Dickinson Stadium on May 4, 2026 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Everton manager David Moyes looks frustrated as he applauds the fans at the end of the Premier League match with Manchester City at Hill Dickinson Stadium(Image: Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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David Moyes said he is still “dreaming” about Europe but believes qualification will be tough for Everton after their draw with Manchester City.
Everton looked set for three points that would galvanise their hopes for midweek football on the continent but conceded a third costly stoppage-time goal in three weeks as Jeremy Doku curled in to make it 3-3.
It was a valuable point that keeps Everton in contention for Europe but the late equaliser could prove costly, Moyes conceded.
The Blues boss said: “I think that the players have had a great mentality all season, I really do. I think they've done a great job with the results in the main.
“It'll be tough for us to make Europe, I think, at the moment. Three points tonight might have made me start talking or feeling a bit more healthier about it.
“Getting one keeps me still dreaming, there's a chance. But I've been talking too much all season about it, so I'm fed up talking about it now.”
Moyes was proud of his players but also frustrated after a turbulent game. Everton trailed at the break but produced a stunning second-half comeback to lead 3-1 - only to then throw three points away.
On the 97th minute equaliser, Moyes said: “It was a brilliant finish by Doku, a fantastic finish by him, so I have to give him credit for that.
“It was a much better performance in the second half - that's certainly probably the worst we've played in the first half in my mind against any of the top teams, but that could easily have been down to the quality and the levels of Manchester City and how well they are performing at the moment.
“We couldn't beat their intensity, the pressure they had on us was really big. But we did a lot better in the second half, we got pushed around a wee bit in the first half as well, but we made a better go at it in the second half.”
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Asked what inspired that second-half fightback, Moyes said: “I think the players just needed to be told exactly [what to do), and I thought once they got the message, they carried it out much better.
“And, look, we missed a couple of big chances to make it four. It says something about it, but Manchester City in the first half, the biggest plus at half-time was that we were only 1-0 down.
“Because we were 1-0 down, it gave us a chance to stay in the game and try and find something from it.”
The Blues return to action on Sunday when they travel to Crystal Palace (2pm).