It is a battle of title contenders versus relegation contenders this weekend as Everton welcome Manchester City to Goodison Park this Saturday.
Venue: Goodison Park (Liverpool)
Key Statistics
Everton have won their two home games under Frank Lampard.
The Toffees have suffered defeat in the last five home competitive H2Hs since handing Pep Guardiola his joint-heaviest managerial loss back in 2017 (4-0).
They have lost each of their last eight league meetings against their Manchester counterparts which represents their third-longest losing run to one opponent in top-flight history.
Manchester City have won ten of their last 12 away games in the league (D2).
They have conceded just eight away goals all season.
Guardiola has won 24 of his last 25 PL games against English managers – although that one defeat was to Lampard’s Chelsea side (2-1, June 2020)
Head to head
Both sides have met 49 times in the Premier League. In those 49 meetings, Everton have 18 wins while Manchester City have 22 wins (D9).
Latest performances in all competitions
Everton: L-W-L-W-L
Manchester City: L-W-W-W-W
Everton
Despite a change of manager, Everton’s fortunes have still not changed as they continue to battle relegation.
They will welcome Manchester City to Goodison Park this Saturday looking to do the impossible job of getting a win.
Frank Lampard’s side come into this tie on the back of a disappointing 2-0 loss to high-flying Southampton in their last league game. The loss made it two losses and two wins for Frank Lampard since he began Everton’s career.
He will now be hoping to get back to winning ways against the champions who will be wounded badly after their loss to Tottenham.
Everton too are hurting and desperate for a good result given their current league position. The hosts come into this round of games sitting in 16th place, just two points over the relegation zone. Although they have played two games less than some of the teams in the relegation zone, they cannot afford to be slack as that could see them end the weekend deep in the relegation zone.
After beating Pep Guardiola 2-1 in June 2020 to hand the title to Liverpool when he was still Chelsea boss, Lampard will be desperate to inflict another win on the Spaniard. But he will have to do so without the services of Tom Davies (thigh), Fabian Delph (thigh), Ben Godfrey (thigh) and Yerry Mina (muscle). Meanwhile, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Demarai Gray are injury doubts for this tie.
Possible Everton starting line-up
Jordan Pickford; Seamus Coleman, Mason Holgate, Michael Keane, Jonjoe Kenny; Allan, Andre Gomes, Alex Iwobi, Donny van de Beek; Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison.
Injured: Tom Davies, Fabian Delph, Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina
Doubtful: Abdoulaye Doucoure and Demarai Gray
Suspended: None
Manchester City
Manchester City’s chances of winning the Premier League this season took a big hit last Saturday when they were beaten 3-2 at home by Spurs.
In an end-to-end encounter at the Etihad, Tottenham took the lead in the first four minutes when Son Heung-min broke free on the counter to feed January signing, Dejan Kulusevski to score. Ilkay Gundogan equalised for City, but a brace from Harry Kane secured the win for Spurs despite Riyad Mahrez’s penalty.
The result means that visitors who went into the game with a nine points lead at the top of the table, come into this game just three points ahead of Liverpool in second.
They will be desperate to bounce back with a huge win and prove to Liverpool and the rest of the league that they mean serious business.
Given that the visitors have scored 30 times in the first half, whilst conceding only four goals in response in the league this season, they will back themselves to get an early goal here.
Meanwhile, they will be without the services of Gabriel Jesus, Benjamin Mendy, and Cole Palmer, while Jack Grealish and Zack Steffen are fighting a race to be fit for this game.
Possible Man City starting line-up
Ederson Moraes, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling.
Injured: Gabriel Jesus and Cole Palmer
Doubtful: Jack Grealish and Zack Steffen
Suspended: Benjamin Mendy
Prediction
Everton 2-1 Man City
