Manchester City will host Everton at the Etihad Stadium in the Boxing Day fixture opener with the hope of halting their poor Premier League run. With just one win in their last eight league games, City’s title hopes appear dashed. This was highlighted by a defensive collapse and a struggling attack in their recent loss to Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, Everton, buoyed by points gained against Arsenal and Chelsea, arrive confident but aware of their dismal record against City. Can Pep Guardiola’s side stop the slide? Let’s preview this intriguing clash and share our top predictions.
Manchester City-Everton Head-to-Head Analysis
| General Details | Man City Lineup (Predicted) | Everton Lineup (Predicted) |
|---|---|---|
| Date: 26/12/2024 Time: 13:30 Stadium: Etihad Stadium Where to watch: SuperSport 204 | Ederson Kyle Walker Ruben Dias Josko Gvardiol Rico Lewis Ilkay Gundogan Kevin De Bruyne Bernardo Silva Jack Grealish Jeremy Doku Erling Haaland | Jordan Pickford Ashley Young James Tarkowski Jarrad Branthwaite Vitaliy Mykolenko Amadou Onana Idrissa Gueye Abdoulaye Doucouré Jack Harrison Dominic Calvert-Lewin Iliman diaye |
Historic Performances
Let’s get on with their head-to-head meetings in all tournaments to deduce what might play out on Thursday.
Recent Encounters
Manchester City’s dominance over Everton is clear in their last five meetings across all competitions. The Citizens have won four times, with one draw and no victories for Everton, highlighting a strong trend favoring City.
Their most recent encounter ended in a 2-0 home win for Manchester City, reflecting their continued superiority in this fixture. This pattern of dominance suggests City is well-positioned to secure another victory in the upcoming clash.
Key Factors Influencing the Match
After previewing their recent meetings, let’s analyze their recent performance and key players within their ranks. This could help us deduce the possible outcome of their Boxing Day clash.
Previous Match
Manchester City’s struggles continued with a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa last weekend. This leaves Pep Guardiola in search of solutions ahead of their home clash with Everton on Thursday. City are winless in three league games, including back-to-back losses to Manchester United and Villa. Phil Foden’s late goal at Villa Park was a mere consolation as City slipped to seventh in the table.
They are now four points off the top four and 12 behind leaders Liverpool. The defending champions have now lost nine of their last 12 games across all competitions, including two of their last three home league matches. Erling Haaland has also failed to score in his last three league games at the Etihad but has never gone four without a goal on home soil.
Everton, meanwhile, arrive with confidence after goalless draws against Arsenal and Chelsea. However, their away form remains dismal, with just one win in their last 19 Premier League road games and no goals in their last four. Sean Dyche’s record against City offers little hope, having lost his last 11 top-flight meetings with them, conceding 34 goals while scoring only twice.
Thursday’s clash marks Everton’s third consecutive December game against a top-six side. This presents a tough challenge for the Toffees at the Etihad.
Players
Josko Gvardiol’s versatility has been pivotal for Manchester City, making him their second top scorer this season after Erling Haaland. He was the lone scorer in the Manchester Derby loss and could be decisive again. Ilkay Gündogan also impressed in his last league outing against Everton, contributing two goals and an assist in City’s 3-0 win in May.
Meanwhile, City may welcome back Manuel Akanji and Rico Lewis, but Rodri, Oscar Bobb, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, and potentially Ederson remain unavailable.
For Everton, 39-year-old Ashley Young continues to shine, with one goal and three assists. He also exhibited strong defensive stats this season, averaging 3.6 recoveries, three tackles, and 2.8 clearances per game.
Sean Dyche’s side could benefit from Armando Broja and Dwight McNeil returning, but James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam remain sidelined. Both teams face challenges as they prepare for a crucial encounter at the Etihad.
Home Advantage
Manchester City’s home form remains solid, boasting 5 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses at the Etihad. This highlights their continued strength on home turf, a crucial factor against an Everton side grappling with inconsistency.
In contrast, Everton’s away record is concerning, with just 1 win, 3 draws, and 4 defeats. This poor form on the road doesn’t inspire confidence as they prepare to face one of the league’s most dominant home teams. Therefore, home advantage favors City to get back to winning ways here.
Betting Tips
After reviewing the recent struggles of both teams in recent games, here are our betting tips for Nigerian Bettors ahead of the Man City vs. Everton clash:
Betting Odds
The following figures represent how bookies price their chances to win, draw, or lose:
Man City to Win – 1.33 | Draw – 5.50 | Everton to Win – 7.50
Bookmakers see Man City as a heavy favorite to win in front of home fans, with Everton the underdogs. There’s almost a 19% chance for the match to end in a deadlock. However, we expect Pep’s team to triumph due to their dominance in this fixture, superior squad and urge to bounce back.
Final Thoughts on the Match
Though Manchester City’s recent form has dipped, their impressive home record and historical dominance over Everton position them as clear favorites for this clash. Everton has shown improved resilience under Sean Dyche, but the quality gap between the squads is expected to play a decisive role. Always gamble responsibly, and visit our site regularly for more reviews and betting tips.
Samuel Okunsolawo is an iGaming expert with over six years of experience in content writing. His passion for simplifying complex concepts makes his articles accessible and useful for beginners and experts alike. With a focus on sports betting trends and reliable betting sites, Samuel’s articles are an excellent resource for those seeking guidance and staying up to date in the world of iGaming.