Manchester City v Everton
Saturday 15th December 1230hrs
Football – England – Premier League
Pick: Manchester City to win and Over 2.5 goals
Bookmaker: Boylesports
Odds: 8/13 (odds taken Friday 14 December, 18.40)
Premier League Betting at Boylesports
The North West hosts England’s two most successful football clubs and they go head to head on Sunday for what will be another much-anticipated clash – but it is the other two major clubs from those cities who we’re focussing on here. The blue halves of Manchester and Liverpool go head to head 24 hours earlier and whilst they do not have the same tradition as their city rivals, they are both clubs who have big ambitions for the future and we should be set for a fascinating game. Continue reading for a match preview of Manchester City against Everton
Manchester City Prediction
Manchester City made a host of changes for their clash with Hoffenheim in the Champions League on Wednesday but they still managed to record another victory, one that underlined their position as much the best team in their section. They’ll await to see what lies in store in the round of 16 when the draw is made on Monday but they have the small matter of trying to regain top spot in the Premier League this weekend. The Champions lost top spot last week when losing 2-0 away to Chelsea. It was their first domestic defeat of the campaign so there is unlikely to be an overreaction on the part of Pep or his players – but they do not like losing and now they’re looking up to Liverpool which will hurt even more. With the Anfield club not playing until Sunday this weekend, City can reclaim top spot – albeit temporarily – with a win at home to Everton on Saturday. Guardiola knows the pressure that being top brings so if his team can get all three points from their games then it certainly places even more scrutiny on Liverpool the following day to get the win and maintain their place.
Everton Prediction
Everton required a last minute goal to get themselves a point at home to Watford on Monday night, and that was after taking an early lead. Lucas Digne’s free kick was fantastic and due to the timing of it and the fact it resulted in the Toffees avoided defeat, there was a feeling of victory even thought it only brought one point. Looking at it dispassionately and you have to say it’s another couple of points dropped on the back of a similar result at home to Newcastle a few days before. It’s to be expected, somewhat, that Everton struggle to put full 90 minutes together with so many changes to their starting eleven under a new manager this season and you expect that consistency in games – and then from game to game – will come as the season progresses because there are signs of this being a really entertaining team. It doesn’t get much easier for Marco Silva for his Everton players, however, with this trip to the Etihad on Saturday. They can take confidence from their recent performance away to rivals Liverpool though, when but for an uncharacteristic and bemusing mistake from Jordan Pickford, they would have taken a deserved point.
Manchester City v Everton Betting Advice
Everton were able to draw in this fixture last season with a Wayne Rooney goal earning them a 1-1 draw in the very early stages of the 2017/18 campaign. Much has changed with the Goodison Park club since then, of course, whilst City have just powered on in their domination of English football. All the signs point to this season being much more competitive for Guardiola’s men who find themselves one point behind Liverpool heading into the hectic festive period. Everton certainly do not want to be helping their city rivals any but they will be desperate for a good result following some recent disappointments.
Silva was able to set his team up to frustrate Liverpool in the recent Merseyside derby and it’s likely that he’ll be doing similar again on Saturday. City are masters at being able to break down pretty much any system an opposition team goes with when they visit the Etihad, though, and they can get the better of their visitors once again. Seven of their eight home wins in the league this season have contained three or more goals and that’s the selection for their meeting with Everton.
