Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge suffered a setback after a 1-1 draw against West Ham United at the London Stadium on Saturday.
City took the lead in the first half through Bernardo Silva, but Konstantinos Mavropanos equalised for West Ham before the break.
The result left City nine points behind league leaders Arsenal, who had earlier secured a 2-0 victory over Everton
Although City still have a game in hand, the draw increased pressure on manager Pep Guardiola and his team as they attempt to keep pace with Arsenal in the title race.
City opened the scoring in the 31st minute when Silva’s cross from the left caught West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen off guard and looped into the net at the far post.
However, the lead lasted only four minutes as West Ham equalised following a defensive error. City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma failed to deal with a corner taken by Jarrod Bowen, allowing Mavropanos to head home from close range.
City dominated possession for much of the match but struggled to convert their chances. Erling Haaland had limited impact, continuing a difficult run in front of goal after scoring just three times in his last 12 league matches.
Substitutes Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku were introduced in the second half in an attempt to spark the attack, but City were unable to find a winning goal.
The result also helped West Ham move out of the relegation zone for the first time in 100 days, leaving them one point ahead of Nottingham Forest.
City now face a demanding run of fixtures, including the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid, the League Cup final against Arsenal, and an FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool.
