Premier League: Manchester City vs Everton Live
Preview
The current champions of the Premier League, Manchester City, have the opportunity to temporarily take the top spot in the standings from their title rivals Liverpool if they defeat Everton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Manchester City recently came from behind to win 3-1 against Brentford, while Everton managed to secure a draw with Tottenham Hotspur in their previous match.
Last season, Manchester City suffered defeats in both home and away matches against Brentford. They were at risk of another loss when Neal Maupay scored a breakaway goal in the first half, and Mark Flekken’s goalkeeping heroics kept them at bay. However, Phil Foden’s equalizer just before halftime shifted the momentum in City’s favor.
Foden then scored two more goals, completing a hat-trick and helping Manchester City, who are aiming for a record fourth successive Premier League title, to continue their push towards the top of the table. Pep Guardiola’s team, now just two points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand, are on a winning streak, having won their last nine matches across all competitions with an aggregate score of 27-6.
After a successful run of four consecutive Premier League victories in December, during which they did not concede a single goal in the first half, Everton has struggled in their last six top-flight games. This has caused them to drop into the bottom three of the league standings. They recently had back-to-back goalless draws with Aston Villa and Fulham, followed by a 2-2 draw with Spurs, where Jack Harrison and Jarrad Branthwaite scored to cancel out two goals from former Everton player Richarlison.
Despite facing challenges on and off the field, manager Sean Dyche praised his team’s resilience in securing a late point and believes that this result could be a turning point for their season as they aim to climb out of the relegation zone. Everton’s winless streak coincides with Luton Town, their relegation rivals, earning eight points in their last five matches and moving ahead of Everton in the standings. Everton now faces a tough task of playing five teams currently in the top eight in their next six league matches.
Head-to-head
Manchester City has been the superior team in their recent matches against Everton, winning 13 and drawing 1 out of the last 14 encounters. They secured a 3-1 win in their previous meeting on Boxing Day at Goodison Park.
Prediction
In a high-stakes match for both teams, Guardiola and Dyche should have no trouble inspiring their players to go for the win. However, it’s clear that Man City are the strong favorites heading into Saturday’s game. Despite their defensive vulnerabilities, they have been prolific in scoring goals, especially with Haaland back in the lineup, giving them the offensive power to outscore their opponents.
