Table of Contents
Manchester City – Everton FC
As the calendar year draws to a close, the Premier League is once again bringing out the big guns. On New Year’s Eve, there are some exciting games in the top English league. Among others, the runners-up from Manchester are in action. The Citizens face Everton FC on Saturday afternoon. A win will keep Manchester City within striking distance of league leaders Arsenal, which is why the Skyblues are desperate to take three points.
Manchester City are once again playing outstanding football this season and have also had a virtually undefendable centre-forward in Erling Haaland since the start of the season. Nevertheless, City have already conceded two defeats in their first 15 league games and have also drawn twice. For this reason, Manchester City are currently five points behind league leaders Arsenal. Last Wednesday, the Citizens defeated Leeds United 3-1.
Everton, on the other hand, have not been lucky in most of their games this season. The Liverpool team is currently 17th in the table and has only managed three wins. On Boxing Day, the Toffees lost 2-1 to Wolverhampton Wanderers after conceding a goal in injury time. Find out who will prevail on Saturday in our Man City vs Everton betting tips.
Man City – Everton Info:
– Date & Time: 31/12/2022, 16:00.
– Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
– Competition: Premier League, Matchday 18
– TV coverage: Sky
Man City Form & Balance Check
Manchester City have won the Premier League championship in four of the last five seasons. Only in the 2019/2020 season did Liverpool snatch the title. And this season, too, the Skyblues’ sole aim in the league is to win the title. However, City’s biggest rival this season is not Liverpool, but Arsenal.
The Citizens are currently five points behind the leaders from north London. The Gunners have only dropped four points this season. Manchester City, on the other hand, have already lost two games and drawn twice. On the last matchday, however, Manchester City managed an unchallenged 3.1 victory against Leeds. In the Champions League, on the other hand, Pep Guardiola’s team is doing well, as they have not lost a game and have won their group without any problems.
Who can stop Haaland?
Erling Haaland scored another brace in the Citizens’ recent win over Leeds. The former Dortmund man has now scored 20 goals in 14 Premier League games. Haaland obviously used the forced break due to the World Cup to become even more effective, as the Norwegian also contributed a goal in the EFL Cup win against Liverpool. The defenders in the Premier League are still looking for a solution to stop the powerful attacker.
Manchester City’s defence has also been one of the most solid in the league this season. City have conceded 15 goals so far. Only two teams have conceded fewer goals in the league. However, City have conceded at least one goal in five of their last six Premier League games. Moreover, with the exception of 22-year-old Gomez and 18-year-old Lewis, all players were active at the World Cup. Therefore, some players might be a bit drained.
Man City facts & analysis
– Man City are second in the table.
– Erling Haaland is top scorer in the league
– Only one game this season without scoring a goal of their own
Everton Form & Balance Check
Everton are one of only six teams to have featured in the top flight of English football every season since the inception of the Premier League in 1992. Last season, however, that almost changed. Everton needed to win against Crystal Palace on the last matchday to be sure of staying in the league. At half-time, the Toffees were trailing 0:2. In the course of the second half, however, Everton turned the game around and won 3-2, which meant survival in the Premier League.
But again this season Everton are only playing against relegation. Yet the beginning of the season looked quite promising. The Toffees lost only two of their first eight games. However, Everton only managed one win out of the next eight games. On Boxing Day, Frank Lampard’s team lost dramatically 2-1 to Wolverhampton in a basement clash, with a stoppage-time goal from Rayan Aït-Nouri. The Toffees are currently 17th in the table.
Attack stalls badly
Everton’s defence has been playing pretty solid this season. Everton have conceded only 19 goals in 15 games. However, not much is happening in attack for the Liverpool team. Everton have a meagre twelve goals on their account for the season. Only Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest have scored less in the Premier League. By comparison, Erling Haaland has scored eight more goals than Everton this Premier League season. Everton’s top scorer is 21-year-old Anthony Gordon with a full three goals in the league.
Everton facts & analysis
– Everton are 17th in the table.
– Four games winless in the Premier League
– Only two points ahead of bottom of table Southampton
Predicted line-up – last update on 30 December 2022
The Manchester City team is expected to be sent back into the game by coach Pep Guardiola with a 4-3-3. Haaland will once again operate up front and provide danger. Guardiola could rotate in a few positions. Rúben Dias is injured and Julián Álvarez, who won the World Cup with Argentina, will also miss out. In addition, Kalvin Phillips will again not be in the squad.
Frank Lampard also sent his team out on the field in a 4-3-3. Maupay will again play up front and Gray could be a candidate for the starting eleven. Townsend, Coady, Calvert-Lewin, Holgate and Garner will all be missing for the game against Manchester City
Man City – Everton direct comparison & stats
Both teams have played each other 121 times so far, with Manchester City winning 50 games and Everton 45. However, Manchester City have won all of their last 10 competitive matches. The last clash between the two teams in February this year was won 1-0 by Manchester City with a goal from Foden.
– Only two wins for Everton against Manchester City since 2014.
– When Manchester City lead 1-0 in home games, they win 95% of the games.
– Everton have failed to score in four of their eight away games this season
