Manchester City failed to make up ground on the top four in the Premier League after a 1-1 draw against Everton at the Etihad.
Nathan Ake, Jeremy Doku and Savinho came into the City starting line-up as three changes from the defeat to Aston Villa over the weekend, as Stefan Ortega kept his place in goal.
Pep Guardiola's charges got off to the good start when Bernardo Silva latched onto a pass from Doku and slid the ball to the far post despite the best efforts from Jarrad Branthwaite.
The home side dominated possession thereafter as they went in search of more goals, with Savinho and Phil Foden seeing a lot of the ball in the final third but without creating much in the box.
However, Everton hit back against the run of play ten minutes before the halftime break as Iliman Ndiaye got on the end of Abdoulaye Doucoure's cross and sent a superb strike past Ortega.
City had a chance to restore their the lead five minutes after the break after Savinho was brought down by Vitalii Mykolenko, however the hosts could not profit after Haaland's effort was saved by Jordan Pickford.
The frustration of the home supporters began to grow as loud groans were heard every time a City player mis-placed a pass or a cross in the final third, while the visitors threw on Armando Broja for the final 20 minutes.
There was to be no reward for the defending league champions in the closing stages, who could not find a way past the Everton defence as they had to settle for a point.