Wayne Rooney scored his 200th Premier League goal as Everton were held to a 1-1 draw at Manchester City.

Rooney struck in the 35th minute of an action-packed game at the Etihad Stadium when he slotted Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s through ball past Ederson.

City defender Kyle Walker was sent off just before the interval for a second bookable offence while Morgan Schneiderlin saw red for the Blues late on.

But Raheem Sterling gatecrashed Rooney’s landmark when he capitalised on a poor Mason Holgate clearance to volley home an equaliser on 83 minutes.

Here were the key talking points from the Etihad:

Miracles don’t happen, but…

 

Ronald Koeman had joked before this game that it would take a miracle for his Everton team to keep a clean sheet at the Etihad Stadium.

Until Mason Holgate’s disastrous headed clearance teed up Raheem Sterling, after 83 minutes, it appeared that miracles might actually happen.

It was a disappointing moment that ruined a near-perfect evening for the Blues with a result which can still be looked back on with some pride.

For much of the game, Everton found themselves under serious pressure but never appeared in danger of crumbling at the hands of their hosts.

For many, that’s a significant step forward and once the frustration dies down, Koeman and his team will look at this as an excellent result.

That they remain the only opposing team which Pep Guardiola has failed to overcome in their first three meetings should provide some consolation.

Rooney still a man for the big occasion

 

Scoring against Manchester City seems to come naturally to Wayne Rooney.

A 200th Premier League goal came against the same opposition that had previously conceded the striker’s half-century and centenary offerings.

Rooney is the man for the big moment, a fact Koeman has been keen to emphasise time and again since his much-vaunted return this summer.

The Dutchman says the England captain was brought back to Everton to provide big game experience and know-how to a squad sorely lacking in both.

He did just that in their first big game of the season and, at this rate, will take up more column inches than any other English top-flight player this season.

Holgate needs to learn – and fast

 

Such is the ruthless nature of the Premier League that one mistake can turn a superb performance into a disastrous one – as Holgate has cruelly found out.

The defender was excellent for 82 minutes against City’s attacking prowess, his performance rightfully receiving widespread plaudits at the Etihad.

But a terrible defensive header teed up Raheem Sterling to smash home the equaliser and Holgate’s good evening turned into an awful one.

He remains a big talent with a bright future but the 20-year-old will have to learn fast if he is to be a permanent fixture in this Everton defence moving forward.

Have the Blues found a backup plan?

 

With Gylfi Sigurdsson finally an Everton player, attention has now turned to getting a new striker in before the end of the transfer window.

In the meantime, Koeman must find a way to get the best out of their current options, namely Rooney, Sandro Ramirez and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Fortunately, it appears that there is something of a form bonding between the latter of those two players.

Rooney already has two goals in as many games so far and, tellingly, the man who has provided the assists for both has been Calvert-Lewin.

Admittedly it is a slight role reversal but if the pair’s linkup continues to flourish, Everton’s backup plan may cushion the blow if no further additions arrive before August 31.