Manchester City missed the chance to go top of the Premier League after Leon Bailey rescued a 1-1 home draw for Aston Villa.
Bailey’s stunner cancelled out Erling Haaland’s 10th goal in six games.
Haaland followed up back-to-back hat-tricks against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest with a second-half goal at Villa Park (50) as he nudged home Kevin De Bruyne’s superb cross to move four goals clear at the top of the Premier League goalscoring chart.
Haaland and De Bruyne came close to adding a second as the Norwegian striker saw Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez deny him twice, while the Belgian struck the bar from a free-kick.
But the home side grabbed an equaliser in the 74th minute when Bailey thumped home a first-time finish from Jacob Ramsey’s low cross.
Villa substitute Philippe Coutinho thought he had given them a shock lead but he was ruled offside before his shot from outside the box went in off the underside of the bar, despite replays later showing he was onside.
City pushed for a winner late on with Rodri lashing wide while Martinez kept out Phil Foden’s close-range shot, but Villa held on to avoid a fourth consecutive league defeat and secure a much-needed point for boss Steven Gerrard.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s side are a point behind leaders Arsenal, who face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
