Manchester City’s game at Everton on Sunday will prove to be a cracker, provided both teams maintain the same hunger for victory and continue in the same form. A home match for Everton will see the fans looking for another huge victory after crushing Southampton at the St Mary’s stadium last weekend. However, at the same time, Manchester City put up an equally strong show against title-defenders Chelsea. Both teams managed to maintain clean sheets against Southampton and Chelsea respectively scoring three goals each.
The victory against Chelsea might have been massive for Manchester City, but there is no denying the fact that they have a tough road ahead of them against Everton. Goodison Park hasn’t been on City’s list of favourite stadiums over the last few years. Before their win in 2013, Manchester City hadn’t beaten Everton there since 2009.
For Everton, they started the season with a 2-2 draw against newly promoted Watford on opening weekend followed by a 3-0 win at Southampton. Midfielder Ross Barkley and forward Romelu Lukaku have scored two goals apiece for the Toffees this season, while Arouna Kone has chipped in with a goal as well.
Team News
Manchester City
Fabian Delph is expected to play this Sunday. Although there have been suggestions that his hamstring injury isn’t as serious as it seemed but it wouldn’t be surprising if he missed out on a few more weeks. City will be hoping to play the same team as last weekend.
Everton
McGeady and Gibson were both expected to return this Sunday as well. With speculation linking McGeady with a move away from the club, the Irishman wouldn’t want to miss many more games before the window shuts. Gibson needs to get a game in as there are claims suggesting that the former Manchester United midfielder is injury prone and another foot injury hasn’t done him any favours.
Interesting Facts
- If the Blues can pull off a rare triumph at Goodison Park, they will rack up a ninth successive win, a feat they have only achieved once before in their history – before the First World War.
- City have won only one of their last eight games against Everton.
- Everton has their historic rivalry with Liverpool, but even that’s often been termed the “friendly derby” — somewhere, there’s a kernel of respect between the two sets of fans. That’s not the case with City and Everton, whose fans seem to genuinely detest each another.
League Head To Head
2014/2015 10th Jan: Everton 1 – 1 Manchester City
2014/2015 6th Dec: Manchester City 1 – 0 Everton
2013/2014 3rd May: Everton 2 – 3 Manchester City
2013/2014 5th Oct: Manchester City 3 – 1 Everton
2012/2013 16th Mar: Everton 2 – 0 Manchester City
2012/2013 1st Dec: Everton 1 – 1 Manchester City
Key Players
Manchester City: David Silva
David Silva is one of the players who were exceptional in City’s strong start to this Premier League season. Sterling’s presence has helped Silva in this form greatly. He is now City’s main man in the middle. City’s playmaker will have the space he needs to cause problems for opponents wherever he sees it. And it’s working. Silva has been involved in all six of their goals so far this season. It just goes to show that the benefits of Sterling’s arrival are greater than his individual talents.
Everton: Romelu Lukaku
Lukaku has also had his own success against City, scoring twice against them in six appearances. Lukaku’s physicality will be tough for City’s centre-backs to handle and Lukaku finding the scoresheet on Sunday is hardly unlikely. Lukaku’s last three seasons have cemented him as an established Premier League goal-scorer, and his start to this season has confirmed that; scoring two goals and getting an assist in the opening two matches.
Prediction
With the pairing of Lukaku and Barkley upfront, Everton will be looking strong. On the other hand, Joe Hart along with Kompany and Mangala, have put up a solid defence for City. Joe Hart will most likely be unable to maintain a clean sheet for the third consecutive match. It will be interesting to see if Sterling can get a goal past Tim Howard, who is proving to be quite the danger.
Interestingly, dating back to last season, City have managed to win eight consecutive Premier League fixtures. Â A win against Everton would stretch the streak to nine and would tie the club record. Thus, to create new history, City must be able to challenge the old history.
My prediction is a 2-1 win for Manchester City, purely based on the all-round performances they have delivered so far this season.
Everton to win is at 21/5 by BetVictor
Manchester City to win is 13/20 by UniBet
