Premier League: Manchester City Eyeing to Repeat History, Again!

Everton vs Manchester City

Manchester City beat Everton twice in 2018 by a 3-1 scoreline. Now, the Sky Blues will look to replicate that success this 2019.

Pep Guardiola’s men are in a tight race with Liverpool for the Premier League title, and a win at Goodison Park will help them overtake the Reds at the top spot … at least for a few days or so.

Luckily for Manchester City, they couldn’t ask for a better time to face Everton, with the Toffees struggling after losing three of their last four games in all competitions.

Talking Points

Hectic schedule for the Sky Blues

Manchester City have woken up. After losing to Newcastle United in one of the most shocking Premier League 2019 results, they bounced back big and demolished Arsenal on Monday at the Etihad Stadium.

Remarkably, Sergio Aguero hit a hat-trick in the game, including a first-minute header that stunned the Gunners. Arsenal levelled matters quickly, but Guardiola’s men—led by the in-form Aguero—were just too much to handle.

Aguero now has 14 league goals to his name, and it doesn’t look like he’s stopping any time soon after scoring in their past four games in all competitions.

The problem now for Guardiola and City is how they will line up against Everton. After all, City are scheduled to play Chelsea three days after their visit to Merseyside.

Manchester City are nursing injuries to skipper Vincent Kompany and defender Benjamin Mendy, and while the two could recover in time against Everton, it’s hard for the team to plan out their roster with plenty of uncertainties.

Every game is a must-win for City, considering that they are the ones chasing for the top spot. With that said, tweaks or minutes restriction could be made against Everton, and that could either work or spell trouble for the team.

Everton and their battle against inconsistency

As mentioned, if there’s one advantage for the Manchester team in this game, it’s the fact that Everton have been struggling in recent weeks.

Put simply, the Toffees are the model of “inconsistency” in the English top-flight. After winning four, drawing three and losing just two times in their first nine league fixtures, Everton have now lost six of their last nine.

Everton have been struggling in the Premier League so far, winning only 2 of their last 5 matches — Marco Silva looking frustrated during Everton’s Premier League loss at home against the Wolverhampton Wanderers

Even more alarming, Marco Silva’s outfit has conceded 18 in that stretch, highlighted by the 2-6 drubbing they suffered at home before Christmas, at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.

Everton haven’t also won against a top-six team in the first half of the campaign, losing to Liverpool, City, Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal and drawing with Chelsea.

Most recently, the Toffees bowed down to seventh-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-3. That game was also played at Goodison.

Silva, who is now under increasing pressure due to the club’s recent performances, have encouraged his team to stay motivated. And they can certainly use it as they try to end their skid.

“For me, motivation is like obligation,” Silva said, via The Guardian. “When you are professional and working in a club like Everton, the obligation is to be motivated, to be focused. You can perform well and you can have a fantastic afternoon, and everything comes good to you. But if not then the players are on the pitch and they have to solve the problem in that moment with our plan. So when you are talking to me about ambition or motivation or focus, then to me that is the obligation of the player.”

History

Two 3-1 losses to Manchester City aren’t that encouraging for Everton though.

In their meeting last December, Guardiola’s charges scored two second-half goals to consolidate their victory. Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling both found the back of the net back then, with the former scoring twice including their opening goal.

Meanwhile, in their last visit to Goodison, the Sky Blues ran riot with three first-half goals. Leroy Sane scored as early as the fourth minute followed by Jesus eight minutes later. Sterling added another one just moments before the break.

Everton won 4-0 against Manchester City in 2017, but that was their only league win against the reigning champions since 2013.

Betting Tip

	Everton vs Manchester City	Asian Handicap Manchester City -1.75 @ 2.12
	February 7, 03:45 (GMT+8)

The Premier League 2019 betting odds, as expected, favour the champs. Asian Handicap Betting at SBOBET even suggests a one-sided affair—just like their recent encounters.

It’s hard to argue with the odds given the form of the two teams. It’s always enticing to back the underdog in a battle of famous clubs, but betting against Manchester City this time might be a foolish move.

There’s always a certain increase in motivation for teams when playing against the champions, but I’m not counting on Everton to do it. They just seem out of sorts right now.

Everton’s defence is suspect, and I expect City to take advantage of that.