Manchester City has not lost a game since defeats to Tottenham and Brighton, seven games in a row, and now welcomes Everton to the Etihad Stadium with a striker in top form: Erling Haaland has scored 22 goals in just 13 games, nine of them in the league alone. The Toffees, on the other hand, are looking increasingly unstable after a promising start to the season, picking up just one win in their last eleven games after international breaks. Tactically, City will be dominant as usual, with lots of possession, high pressing and quick transitions down the wings, while Haaland lurks in the box as the target man. Guardiola will want to control the midfield and not allow Everton any space behind the defensive line. David Moyes’ team will probably defend compactly and rely on counterattacks, but their inconsistent defense and four defeats in the last five direct duels speak against them. To make matters worse, loanee Jack Grealish is not eligible to play against his former club, which further limits Everton’s creative options.
- Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
- Date and time: October 18, 2025, 4:00 p.m.
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 8)
Manchester City go into the game as clear favorites, buoyed by their strong form and Haaland’s goalscoring prowess, while Everton’s defense is weaker. Value picks are more likely to be found in more specific markets than in a simple home win. Conservative to moderate betting options include: City at halftime, as the Skyblues have scored before the break in each of their last five games and Haaland scores many goals in the first half. Over 2.5 goals in the game is also a good bet, as City have recently scored high numbers of goals at home and Everton have conceded at least one goal in four of their last five games. Erling Haaland is a solid option as a goalscorer, with nine goals in ten Premier League appearances and the absence of Everton center back Branthwaite. For more risk-taking bettors, the double chance Everton (X2) could be interesting, as Jordan Pickford brings international clean sheet experience and Rodri’s absence could affect City’s defensive balance, although this bet is significantly riskier given City’s 16 league games without defeat against Everton.
Man City Form & Record Check
Manchester City comes into its home game against Everton on a seven-game unbeaten streak. After early defeats to Tottenham and Brighton, the team stabilized and picked up ten points from its last four league games. With 13 points, City is in 5th place, one point behind Bournemouth and one ahead of Crystal Palace. The team is back in good form offensively: in their last five games, City has scored at least one goal in each match, scored in every first half, and has never been behind at the break. Recent results include a 1-0 away win at Brentford, a 2-2 draw with Monaco, and a 5-1 win over Burnley. The second halves have tended to be lower-scoring recently, with less than two goals scored after the break in four of the last five games. Erling Haaland leads the Premier League scoring charts with nine goals in seven games, was named Player of the Month for September and has scored an impressive 22 goals in 13 competitive games for club and country, averaging a goal every 47 minutes. The Norwegian returned early from international duty and is available for selection. There are personnel concerns in midfield: Rodri is expected to miss out with a thigh injury he sustained in the win at Brentford, with Nico González the most likely replacement. Rayan Aït-Nouri and Omar Marmoush are back in training after injuries but are not yet considered ready to play, while Rayan Cherki remains sidelined with thigh problems. Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected to start in goal, having settled in quickly after his move from PSG and winning the Save of the Month award in September.
Pep Guardiola is expected to field his usual system, although there are some personnel questions to be answered. Gianluigi Donnarumma is surprisingly the first-choice goalkeeper after earning his place in the first few weeks. In defense, O’Reilly will apparently start on the left. Rayan Aït-Nouri is still out with ankle problems and may not return until the end of October. There is a significant change in midfield: Nico González is set to replace the injured Rodri, who is expected to be out with a thigh injury. This means González will have more responsibility, having not yet fully settled in. Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden could start alongside him. In attack, Guardiola has to choose between Bernardo Silva, Jeremy Doku, and Savinho. Erling Haaland is set to start up front, having been released early from international duty and is ready to play.
Everton Form & Record Check
Everton travels to the Etihad Stadium as a neighbor in the table, sitting in 8th place with 11 points from seven games, level on points with Chelsea above and Sunderland below. David Moyes’ team is in a relatively stable mid-table position, but traditionally struggles immediately after international breaks: in the last five years, they have won only once in the 11 games immediately after a break. Their recent form has been mixed. The 2-1 home win against Crystal Palace about a week and a half ago was positive, with Ndiaye converting a late penalty and Grealish scoring in stoppage time. Before that, there was a 1-1 draw against West Ham and a narrow 1-2 defeat in the derby against Liverpool. It is striking that Everton were goalless at half-time in four of their last five games; the team is currently focusing more on defense and often shows little action in the second half. Branthwaite, Patterson, and Röhl are out with injuries. The loss of Branthwaite, whose market value is around €50 million and who is important defensively, is particularly painful. On a positive note, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has extended his contract until 2029 and is in strong form, most recently achieving a series of eight clean sheets for England.
David Moyes is likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation: Pickford in goal, Coleman at right-back, Tarkowski and Keane at center-back, and Mykolenko at left-back. Garner and Gueye will form the double six. Dibling, Ndiaye, and McNeil will play in a three-man attacking midfield, while Beto will lead the line. Three players are out with injuries: center back James Branthwaite with a thigh injury and a market value of around €50 million, as well as right back Patterson and midfielder Röhl. There are no definite return dates for any of the three. O’Brien, Dewsbury-Hall, and Barry could come off the bench as replacements, which Moyes could bring on during the game if necessary.
H2H Man City – Everton Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The record between Manchester City and Everton clearly favors the Skyblues. City are unbeaten in 16 league games against Everton, an impressive run that underlines their dominance in this fixture. In the last five head-to-head meetings, City have won four times, with Everton managing just one draw. This historical superiority further reinforces City’s status as favorites and makes an away win for the Toffees statistically unlikely.
