Premier League: Can Everton Worsen the Sky Blues’ Nightmare?

Manchester City vs Everton

Boxing Day football is a huge tradition for fans in England and there’s a full programme of Premier League football to enjoy in just three days time. But I have a funny feeling Manchester City fans won’t be looking forward to the festivities so much, as they have been enduring a Nightmare before Christmas. It has been the strangest of times for Pep Guardiola and the Sky Blues who have lost six of their last eight league games, as well as stumbling in the Champions League.

And now they face Sean Dyche’s Everton, not a side who you’d expect to bring much Christmas cheer! While the Toffees are looking over their shoulders towards the drop zone it’s the Sky Blues who are in relegation form, and Dyche’s team has recently frustrated both Arsenal and Chelsea. Are things about to get even worse for the Sky Blues?      

 

Talking Points

Possession without bite is Sky Blues’ weakness

Aston Villa were the latest team to beat Manchester City and, following on from a loss in the Manchester Derby, this was another serious body blow. The Premier League 2024 betting odds have pretty much thrown the Sky Blues out of the title race, now fourth favourites at a price of around 34.00 and they are now down in seventh place and 12 points behind leaders Liverpool having played a game more.

Yep…it looks like City’s domestic campaign is all but over.

And the problems have been there for all to see. Once again, against the Villains, the Sky Blues had long periods of possession but with no end product, whereas Unai Emery’s Villa hit City hard when they had the opportunity, Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers breaching the visitors’ defence all too easily. When Guardiola’s team had the ball the passing was ponderous and they rarely looked like scoring. After starting the season in electric form and taking a big lead in the race for the Golden Boot, Erling Haaland has been overtaken by Liverpool’s Mo Salah, who has just increased his tally to 15 against the big Norwegian’s 13. 

Surely City’s Premier League 2024 results will pick up soon, but the mantra that possession will bring results has been comprehensively dispelled; and Dyche is a master at getting results without seeing much of the ball. 

 

Toffees aiming for an impressive hat-trick

After holding Arsenal to a 0-0 draw last week the Toffees went on to keep Chelsea out on Sunday and consecutive shutouts, against such elevated opposition, is some achievement. Keeper Jordan Pickford was the key man again as Everton frustrated Enzo Maresca’s side who were hoping to reach top spot with a victory. Since the beginning of October Everton have kept seven clean sheets in the Premier League, the most of any team across the five big leagues in Europe, and they have had five clean sheets in the last six games.    

Centre back James Tarkowski, who came to Everton from Burnley with Dyche, has been a colossus at the heart of defence and he will relish a battle with Haaland. But his former Clarets team-mate, Dwight McNeil looks set to miss out. The winger has been the Toffees most creative player this season, but he has missed the last two games with a knee injury and the Manchester City clash will come too soon for him.          

 

History

This is a fixture Manchester City usually enjoy, and they have won five and drawn one of the last six encounters, including a 2-0 victory at home last February, and the Toffees have failed to win on their last 14 visits to the Etihad Stadium.   

There’s an odd sort of symmetry to the recent form of these two teams; both have won just one from the last six, but Everton have drawn four and lost one while City have lost four and drawn one.  

 

Betting Tip

The SBOTOP stats team are confident the Sky Blues can win at odds of 1.30, while the draw is available at 4.81 and a Toffees win is at 6.76.

But I’ve been bitten more than once over the last few weeks, convinced that, sooner or later, the ‘real’ Manchester City would reappear and start winning week after week. Yes, I think City will probably win but I’m playing safe and going for a game with goals…but not too many.

And if you fancy a fun bet (though not for Guardiola), Dyche to mastermind a third consecutive 0-0 against one of the Big Six is priced at 18.76.   

   

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