Premier League: Manchester City Have Tricky Visit to Goodison Park

Everton vs Manchester City

Manchester City are looking to clinch a Champions League next season. Fortunately for them, the Premier League was granted an additional spot due to their high UEFA coefficient, so staying in the Top 5 should get the job done for Pep Guardiola’s side.

The Sky Blues are fifth in the English top-flight standings with 55 points, but they cannot let their guard down with six matchdays remaining in the 2024-25 campaign. Chelsea and Aston Villa, at 54 points each, are lurking behind Manchester City and can enter the race with league wins this weekend.

They will go to Goodison Park to take on Everton, who are eight notches below them at 38 points. David Moyes’ men broke their winless run with a 1-0 victory against Nottingham Forest last Saturday.

The Toffees don’t have much to play for, but that doesn’t mean they won’t go all out at home when the defending champions visit town this Saturday.

 

Talking Points

Branthwaite looking like the real deal for Everton

Everton’s 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend was a classic David Moyes match. The Toffees repelled everything that came their way from their opponents before hitting them with a sucker punch to claim all three points at City Ground. Abdoulaye Doucoure’s dramatic stoppage-time winner off Dwight McNeil’s assist was the play of the match, but they wouldn’t be in this position if they didn’t defend well at the back.

Jarrad Branthwaite kept things tight for Everton throughout the contest, as he stood out in the advanced metrics. The 22-year-old centre-back won all nine of his aerial duels (100-per cent) and registered six clearances and five recoveries.

Branthwaite was a hot commodity in the transfer market. That may be the case again this summer, as Everton might be forced to sell the Englishman due to PSR-related constraints. 

If Branthwaite keeps this up, especially against Manchester City this weekend, Everton could rake in at least £70 million, not a bad return for a defender who oozes potential but not yet a finished product.

 

Manchester City receive frontline boost

Manchester City were so shorthanded in the final third that Pep Guardiola deployed Kevin De Bruyne as their lone striker during their 5-2 win over Crystal Palace. The Belgian midfielder admitted that playing the No. 9 was a “little bizarre,” but it worked for the Sky Blues.

The Sky Blues were down by two goals after some horrible defending that led to early goals from Eberechi Eze and Chris Richards, but De Bruyne reversed their fortunes. The outgoing playmaker scored on a superb free-kick in the 33rd minute. Omar Marmoush scored the equaliser three minutes later, and De Bruyne teed up Mateo Kovacic for the marginal goal two minutes after the halftime break. James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly scored two more goals for good measure.

Phil Foden was absent against the Eagles after sustaining a knock during the Manchester Derby, but he is poised to be named in the matchday squad against the Toffees. The Stockport-born playmaker will look to add to his seven league goals and two assists this year.

 

History

Manchester City and Everton shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw last December at the Etihad. Bernardo Silva drew first blood in the 14th minute, but Iliman Ndiaye replied in the 36th minute with his wonderful strike. The Sky Blues almost stole the match when Savinho drew a penalty call on Vitaliy Mykolenko in the second half, but Jordan Pickford blocked Erling Haaland’s penalty kick.

Everton are winless in their last 15 Premier League matches against Manchester City (D3, L12) since a 4-0 win in January 2017. However, if the Toffees hold the Sky Blues to another draw this weekend, it will mark the first time since 2016-17 that they didn’t register a loss against Pep Guardiola’s side in a single season.

Since David Moyes returned to Goodison Park last January, Everton have taken 21 points in their last 13 games (W5, D6, L2). The Toffees have also drawn their last four home league games, their longest run since February 2015.

 

Betting Tip

The Premier League 2025 odds expect the visitors to run roughshod over their hosts this Saturday. Manchester City are 1.93 favourites to win, whereas Everton are 3.56 underdogs, and a draw is at 3.32 in the 1X2 market.

Besides our recommended bet, SBOTOP bettors can expect Premier League 2025 highlights from this match, making alternatives like Over 2.25 at 1.63, Over 2.50 at 1.84, Over 2.75 at 2.06, and Total Goals 2-3 at 2.00 worth considering.

   

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