Manchester City went into Saturday's encounter with Everton at the Etihad Stadium knowing that a win would temporarily move them to the top of the Premier League table.
They got off to a bad start when Marouane Fellaini gave the visitors a 32nd-minute lead, but Carlos Tevez converted from the penalty spot before the break to draw City level.
Both teams created chances during an exciting second half, only for the scores to remain level.
Read our minute-by-minute report below to find out how it all unfolded at the home of the champions.
Hello there and a warm welcome to you on this crisp December afternoon. We should be in for an intriguing game of football today as Manchester City welcome Everton to the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League.
We've got some team news just in...
MAN CITY: Hart; Maicon, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov; Yaya Toure, Barry, Silva; Nasri, Tevez, Dzeko
City boss Roberto Mancini has shuffled his pack today with five changes to the side that beat Wigan 2-0 in midweek. Aleksandar Kolarov, Samir Nasri, Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko all come into the starting XI, while their is also a place for former Everton defender Joleon Lescott.
EVERTON: Howard; Hibbert, Baines, Distin, Jagielka; Naismith, Pienaar, Osman, Gibson, Fellaini; Jelavic
Meanwhile, Everton manager David Moyes has stuck with the same team that earned a 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Wednesday. Leighton Baines was an injury doubt, but the defender has shaken off a hamstring problem and starts.
MAN CITY SUBS: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Kolo Toure, Sinclair, Garcia, Aguero, Balotelli
EVERTON SUBS: Mucha, Oviedo, Heitinga, Hitzlsperger, Barkley, Vellios, Gueye
Manchester City know that a victory this afternoon will see them go back to the top of the table if only for a few hours, with current leaders Manchester United not playing until 5.30pm.
Today they come up against an Everton side who beat them 1-0 when the teams last met at Goodison Park in January. However, the Toffees have stumbled as of late with just two points picked up from their three matches.
It's an interesting move from Roberto Mancini to recall Joleon Lescott to the starting lineup. The defender has been left out of City's matchday squad for the last two games and Everton boss David Moyes admitted yesterday that he would be tempted to bring the England international back to Goodison Park on loan if he was unhappy at the Etihad.
Could that be a wily piece of management from Mancini keeping Lescott happy in the short term? He's certainly too good a defender to be sitting on the bench, but such if life with the Premier League champions...
Some news from Chelsea's game against West Ham at Upton Park and Diame has just put the home side 2-1 ahead with five minutes remaining!
Anyway, back to business, and Manchester City are still the only team not to be beaten in the Premier League this season. The champions certainly haven't had it all their own way but they've managed to grind out some very important results recently, not least at Wigan on Wednesday.
City were certainly made to work for the three points, but late goals from Mario Balotelli and James Milner secured the win at the DW Stadium.
Everton were also involved in a tough encounter in midweek as they came back from an early setback against Arsenal to earn a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.
However, it's been a fairly underwhelming few weeks for David Moyes's side considering their storming start to the campaign. They haven't been losing too many but there have been six draws in their last eight matches, leaving them in sixth place in the table. I'm sure they'd be happy with another stalemate today, though.
Everton can take some encouragement from their recent record at City: They've won four of their previous five visits.
That said, Balotelli and Milner were on target last season in a 2-0 victory for the champions.
Fifteen minutes until we get underway here at the Etihad...
We've had our first Premier League result of the day come through at Upton Park and Chelsea's woes have deepened thanks to a 3-1 defeat against West Ham. That's now no win in seven league games for the Blues. You can read our match report from East London right here.
Needless to say, the travelling Chelsea fans weren't too happy with that one. If Rafa Benitez was under pressure already, he's got his back against the wall now.
Five minutes until kickoff!
The players are in the tunnel, ready to step out onto the Etihad pitch.
Here they come!
Here we go then, it'll be Everton to get us underway here at the Etihad Stadium...
An early scare for Everton there as Distin is chased down by Tevez, but the defender just about manages to pass the ball back to Howard in goal.
Baines is getting a talking to from referee Lee Probert now following a clumsy challenge on Yaya Toure. Not the best tackle that the full-back has ever made, it must be said.
We've had our first shot on goal and it's from Naismith, who drags his effort wide from 20 yards following some superb control from Gibson to create the chance.
Kolarov looks to be in early trouble here. The full-back is signalling to the bench. It looks like he might have pulled a muscle.
SUBSTITUTION: City are forced into the change with just six minutes on the clock as Aleksandar Kolarov comes off for Pablo Zabaleta. It seems to be Kolarov's groin that's the problem.
Everton have a second crack at goal, this time from Osman. The visitors use the ball well around the box before the midfielder fires harmlessly wide with his weaker left foot. The Toffees have started brightly.
Decent opening for City as Maicon's teasing cross is collected by a brave Howard. The American took a bit of a knock there, but he looks to be okay.
Everton are looking to probe as soon as they get the ball this afternoon. The visitors are showing plenty of attacking intent.
Sarcastic cheers from the away fans now as Toure's long ball to Nasri goes out for a goal kick.
Everton are looking very comfortable in possession right now. There's a real purpose and confidence about their passing.
CLOSE FOR EVERTON! Baines plays in Pienaar with the cheekiest of backheels, giving the South African the chance to put in a decent cross. However, his cutback form Fellaini is cut out with the Belgian waiting to strike.
CHANCE! City nearly make the breakthrough as Dzeko heads Silva's whipped cross narrowly wide from about eight yards. The hosts cranked up the pressure by a notch there.
The home side look to create an opening again, but Silva's incisive ball for Tevez runs through to Howard. The City fans are starting to raise the noise inside the Etihad.
CHANCE AGAIN! Tevez's pullback finds Nasri, only for the Frenchman's stinging effort to smack into the head of Dzeko. I think the Bosnian felt that one.
It's Everton's turn to attack now as Naismith tries to pick out Fellaini in the area. The Scot's pass is just behind his teammate though before the ball is cleared.
The atmosphere in the Etihad picked up about 10 minutes ago, but it's gone flat as a pancake again now...
We've got 15 minutes plus added time left to play in this first half.
Tevez looks a little peeved with Barry as the midfielder's ambitious pass is over hit and Howard gathers.
GOAL! Man City 0-1 Everton (Fellaini)
Everton take the lead through Marouane Fellaini and you have to say that they're good value for it. Baines' cross from the left finds the Belgian at the back post and although his header is brilliantly saved by Hart, he's able to bundle in the rebound at the second attempt.
That goal seems to have awoken the home fans as they urge their team forward in search of an equaliser, but Tevez's header is pushed away by Howard.
Silva whips in the resulting corner, but the Everton defence holds firm to clear.
HALF CHANCE FOR CITY The ball is bouncing around in the Everton box before Tevez is able to get shot away. However, his effort is deflected and loops into the grateful arms of Howard.
Five minutes of normal time to play in this first half and Everton lead the champions 1-0 through Marouane Fellaini's goal.
PENALTY FOR MAN CITY!
GOAL! Everton 1-1 Man City (Tevez, pen)
City are awarded a spot kick when Fellaini bundles Dzeko over in the box. It's a unnecessary foul, but Tevez doesn't mind as he fires the champions level.
We'll have two minutes of added time in the first half here...
BOOKING: Lescott is the first player to go into the book this afternoon following a trip on Pienaar.
HALF TIME: Man City 1-1 Everton
Everton have a final chance of the half as Hart pushes away Fellaini's header before referee Lee Probert blows his whistle to mark the end of the opening 45 minutes. The visitors have given a really good account of themselves and they took a deserved lead through Fellaini, but the Belgian gave away a penalty late on for his foul on Dzeko before Tevez levelled the scores. It's been a decent first half to say the least.
There are five other Premier League matches taking place this afternoon, so here come the scores at the halfway stage...
PREMIER LEAGUE HALF-TIME SCORES:
Arsenal 0-0 Swansea
Fulham 0-0 Spurs
Liverpool 1-0 Southampton
West Brom 0-0 Stoke
There is another match taking place at Loftus Road between QPR and Aston Villa but they're playing a fair chunk of additional time due to a neck injury suffered by R's midfielder Stephane Mbia.
And that's half time at Loftus Road with the teams going in 1-1 at the break.
Here come the players out of the tunnel for the second half.
City get us underway...
Both managers have opted not to make any changes at the break, although City only have two substitutions left after Zabaleta replaced Kolarov in the opening five minutes.
HALF CHANCE FOR CITY Tevez does well to create some space for himself in a crowded penalty area, but his shot is blocked by the Everton defence.
Wonderful from Tevez. Howard's distribution to Jagielka isn't the best and the Argentine harries the defender for the ball, eventually winning a throw for his side.
Everton are struggling to contain City now. The champions are building up a head of steam.
Mario Balotelli has started warming up on the touchline. Will we soon be seeing the Italian after he scored his first Premier League goal of the season at Wigan on Wednesday?
Baines performs his defensive duties well there as he blocks two crosses from Maicon out wide.
CHANCE! Zabaleta floats a decent cross into the area and Tevez powers his header over the bar. The Argentine wants a corner, but the referee signals for a goal kick.
SAVE! Strong hands from Howard there as he pushes away Maicon's drive after the Brazilian had made a marauding run into the Everton box.
There's some confusion in the Everton box with Silva causing all sorts of problems. Dzeko eventually lines up the shot, but his effort is snuffed out. City are tightening their grip on this one.
SUBSTITUTION: Man City make their second change and it hasn't gone down well with the fans as Carlos Tevez is replaced by Sergio Aguero. I think they wanted Dzeko to make way.
BOOKING: Fellaini goes into the book now for his challenge on Zabaleta. Little argument there.
Twenty minutes of normal time left here.
Everton have a corner...
But that's a poor delivery from Baines. It doesn't even get past the first man.
SUBSTITUTION: Everton make their first switch now as Bryan Oviedo comes on for Steven Naismith.
It's all become a little bit tense here at the Etihad Stadium. City are struggling to find a decisive second goal while Everton look very dangerous on the break.
Fellaini creates some space to get the cross in, but he whacks it well beyond the back post.
SUBSTITUTION: City make their final change now as Mario Balotelli comes on for Edin Dzeko. Can the Italian conjure up a winner in these final 10 minutes?
Toure goes down following a collision with Fellaini, but the Ivorian looks to be okay. That was a meeting of the midfield powerhouses if ever there was one.
Toure's next involvement is to clip the ball into the area, only for Howard to come out and collect easily.
Balotelli has a crack at goal from all of 30 yards, but it's wild and flies well over. The striker could have used the ball better there.
Big shouts for handball from City there as Distin blocks Nasri's cross, but it's only a corner - which Everton clear.
Everton break before Jelavic is fouled by Zabaleta! The visitors have a free kick within shooting distance...
SAVE! Jelavic curls his shot through the wall, but Hart just about manages to scramble it away.
The fourth official indicates that there will be three minutes of added time...
SUBSTITUTION: A change for Everton now as Johnny Heitinga replaces Nikica Jelavic.
FULL-TIME: Man City 1-1 Everton
Referee Lee Probert blows the full-time whistle and Manchester City and Everton share the spoils following a 1-1 draw. The Toffees went ahead through Marouane Fellaini, but Carlos Tevez's penalty before half time got City level. It was a frantic finish between the two sides, but Everton managed to hold on for a deserved point.
Anyway, that's all from me for now. I hope you enjoyed our coverage of the match and we hope to see you soon.
Written by
Jack Prescott
Jack Prescott
