Manchester City vs Everton
Two of the big beasts of football management are about to clash in the Premier League for the first-ever time.
What better way to see in a new decade and a new year I hear you ask.
Premier League highlights guaranteed, right?
Talking Points
Well, possibly. Except one man is in charge of the champions. A side which, on its day, is the number one team in the country.
The other has taken over a, if not sleeping giant, certainly a club which has stirred only too infrequently over the past three decades.
Carlo Ancelotti has inherited an Everton side which, at times, has struggled to maintain its top-flight status. Since leaving Parma in the late 1990s the wily Italian coach has never managed a club not challenging for championships, so this is a whole new experience for him, but one he is seemingly relishing.
There have been signs of improvement in recent weeks. During their last visit to Manchester little over a fortnight ago under caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson, Everton managed to secure a 1-1 draw.
They then drew with Arsenal and have won their opening two matches since Ancelotti was appointed, including a 2-1 triumph at Newcastle last weekend.
What’s more Man City boss Pep Guardiola has yet to defeat Ancelotti, losing both of their previous meetings.
They met in a two-legged 2013 Champions League semi-final, which included a now infamous 4-0 win in Munich and an aggregate hammering.
This match presents the biggest test of Ancelotti’s brief tenure at Everton and, while his new side may be five unbeaten in five matches the league, City at the Etihad is an entirely different proposition.
City returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Sheffield United on Sunday to move them a point behind second-placed Leicester City, and they have won four of their past seven games against Everton.
The champs have also won 41 of their previous 48 home league matches, while Everton have lost 25 of their past 48 on the road in the top flight and have won just twice on their travels this term.
Furthermore, City have kept a clean sheet in only two of their past 10 outings and have conceded in all but two of the past 15 matches in all competitions, yet Everton have not kept a clean sheet away from home in the league since the goalless draw with Crystal Palace on the opening day.
This should not be goalless!
History
Everton remain without a win at Manchester City since December 2010 yet did manage a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium two seasons ago.
At the time, that was the third successive draw between the sides at the ground.
Then Wayne Rooney’s opener was cancelled out by a late Gabriel Jesus equaliser in a match in which both sides finished with 10 men – the hosts played the entire second half a man down.
It was preceded by a 1-1 draw in 2016/17 when Romelu Lukaku put the visitors in front before Nolito equalised for Guardiola’s men.
It was a goalless draw the season before that.
Yet last season, City ran out 3-1 winners with goals from Jesus (two) and Raheem Sterling.
City did get the better of Everton at home in 2016, winning the League Cup semi-final second leg 3-1 (4-3 on aggregate), thanks to a late Sergio Aguero goal to seal a place in the Wembley final where they beat Merseyside neighbours Liverpool in a penalty shoot-out.
The overall history in this fixture could hardly be closer. City have 72 wins to Everton’s 68 victories with 47 meetings ending all square.
Their most recent meeting came in September at Goodison Park when City clinched a 3-1 success, thanks to goals from Jesus, Riyad Mahrez and Sterling.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin netted for the home side.
Betting Tip
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Manchester City vs Everton | Total Goal 2-3 @ 2.35 |
| January 02, 01:30 (GMT+8) |
City are firm favourites with the SBOBET Premier League betting odds – when aren’t they at home!
You can back them 1X2 @ 1.29 with Everton well adrift @ 8.75. The draw – which would have been a good bet in recent times – is not really expected so is offered @ 5.60.
With Asian Handicap odds, how about City -2.00 @ 2.25, while the Toffees are +1.50 @ 2.16.
Even over 3.75 goals only pays out @ 2.23, total goal 2-3 @ 2.35 and total goal 4-6 @ 2.20.
A repeat of last season’s corresponding fixture – correct score 3-1 – is available @ 8.50.
I feel City will edge this but my three-star prediction is Total Goal 2-3 @ 2.35.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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