The first Premier League fixture after Christmas will feature Everton making the short trip down the M62 to face reigning champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Boxing Day.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City has faced an uncharacteristic dip in form this season. With the team now effectively out of the title race and managing only one win in their last 12 games, this season has arguably been one of the biggest stories in European football.
Meanwhile, Everton comes into this clash with an impressive Boxing Day record. They are undefeated in their last eight away matches on December 26, a streak that dates back to 2005. Notably, their last victory against reigning champions on Boxing Day occurred in 2016 when they defeated Leicester City.
Sean Dyche’s Everton has enjoyed a strong run of results recently, easing the pressure on their manager following a crushing 4-0 defeat to Manchester United less than a month ago. They bounced back with a 4-0 win over Wolves and held both Arsenal and Chelsea to goalless draws, indirectly aiding their rivals Liverpool in the title race.
This week also marked significant off-the-pitch progress for Everton, with the club being taken over by the Friedkin Group and gaining access to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. Spirits among fans are higher than they have been in months.
Everton has shown remarkable defensive resilience, registering three consecutive clean sheets. They now boast the most clean sheets across Europe’s top-five leagues since October, totaling seven. However, their attacking performance remains a concern. Players like Jack Harrison have struggled to convert opportunities, and Everton’s tally of 14 goals scored is only marginally better than Southampton’s, the league’s lowest.
Manchester City faces a growing list of injury concerns:
– John Stones may miss the clash after sustaining a foot injury at Villa Park.
– Goalkeeper Ederson remains a doubt due to illness.
– Matheus Nunes missed the last match with a knock, but reinforcements such as Mateo Kovacic and Nathan Ake are expected to return.
– Long-term absentees include Ruben Dias (muscle injury), Oscar Bobb, and Rodri, who is recovering from an ACL tear.
Everton is set to be without Ashley Young, who is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season. Club captain Seamus Coleman is expected to step in. Dwight McNeil remains a doubt after failing a late fitness test, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin is likely to lead the attack despite his ongoing 12-game scoring drought.
Predicted Starting Lineups
Manchester City possible lineup:
Ortega; Walker, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; De Bruyne, Kovacic; Savinho, Foden, Doku; Haaland.
Everton possible lineup:
Pickford; Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin.
Prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Everton
While Manchester City’s recent form has been shockingly poor, they are expected to rebound with a favorable run of fixtures, starting with this one. Everton has only managed one Premier League away win in the last 365 days, and a victory at the Etihad — where they haven’t won in nearly 15 years — seems unlikely.
