The hosts were well on top but had to come from behind to take a point at home to Ronald Koeman's side
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was looking for an immediate response from his side, following their defeat at Tottenham before the international break.
That loss ended City's 100 per cent start to the Premier League season under Guardiola and proved there are weaknesses to be exploited within his revered style of play.
City dominated the game but missed two penalties, from Kevin De Bruyne and substitute Sergio Aguero, both of which were saved by Everton keeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
In between those two misses, City went behind to a fine goal from Romelu Lukaku, scored on the counter-attack.
But Guardiola's side pulled level through a header from substitute Nolito, who scored with his first touch.
City skipper Vincent Kompany made his return from injury in the 89 minute, but Guardiola's side could not force the win and continued to back peddle in the title race.
But what did we learn? David McDonnell was at the Etihad....
1. De Bruyne return lifts City
It was no coincidence City's winning start to the season came undone in the two games in which Kevin De Bruyne was missing with a hamstring injury.
City's stand-out performer this term returned against Everton and was everywhere, the chief protagonist in his side's best attacking moments.
De Bruyne's return ahead of Wednesday's Champions League tie in Barcelona is a huge boost for City.
2. Sane shines on Premier League debut
Leroy Sane, a £42million summer signing from Schalke, has had to bide his time to make his first Premier League start, but he made a big impact here, tormenting Everton left-back Bryan Oviedo with his quick feet and direct running, with the visitors doubling up on him thereafter, to try to suppress his threat.
3. Bravo comes to City's rescue
Claudio Bravo was brought and Joe Hart offloaded because the former was perceived not to be adept enough with his feet and able to play the style of play demanded by Pep Guardiola.
But in a week in which Hart proved his enduring worth with stunning saves in England's goalless draw in Slovenia, Bravo showed he, too, can do the spectacular, producing a fine one-handed save at full-stretch to deny Gerard Deulofeu moments after the restart.
4. Aguero misses from the spot again
Sergio Aguero may have 11 goals in nine games for City this season, but the Argentina international is having no luck from the spot, having missed a penalty for the fourth time this season.
Aguero missed twice in one game in City's Champions League qualifier at Steaua Bucharest, while he missed again for Argentina in midweek. Surely Guardiola won't keep him on penalties after this.
5. Stekelenburg produces double penalty save
Maarten Stekelenburg was finally beaten by substitute Nolito's header, but only after saving two penalties and producing a fine save at full-stretch to deny Ilkay Gundogan.
Stekelenburg saved Kevin De Bruyne's first-hald penalty, then kept out sub Aguero's spot-kick, before making his wonder save from Gundogan.
The Everton keeper also made another crucial stop, again from De Bruyne, with 10 minutes left, in a man-of-the-match display.
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