Manchester City’s already slim hopes of a top-three finish in the Women’s Super League suffered another blow following a 1-1 draw at home to Everton.

City failed to capitalise on third-placed Manchester United being held to a goalless draw by West Ham, meaning Nick Cushing’s side sit seven points behind their rivals with three games of the season left.

It started well for the hosts as they went ahead in the 13th minute through Kerstin Casparij, who stabbed home from close range after Kerolin Nicoli’s cross was headed back across goal by Lily Murphy.

Casparij celebrated by holding up a City shirt with Mary Fowler’s name on the back after it emerged the Australia forward ruptured her anterior cruciate knee ligament in last week’s FA Cup defeat by United.

Despite their injury crisis – Alex Greenwood, Lauren Hemp, Vivianne Miedema and Khadija Shaw are among those also on the treatment table – City continued to make the early running.

But they were pegged back after 33 minutes as Karen Holmgaard headed home following identical twin sister Sara’s cross to the back post.

City failed to find another breakthrough, meaning United only need to win one of their last three games to guarantee their place in the Champions League next season.