Premier League: All-Blues Day in Manchester

Manchester City vs Everton

There was a time in the Premier League era – even after the Sheikh Mansour-led Abu Dhabi takeover of 2008 – when Everton held a real hoodoo over Manchester City.

Never mind that City had the capacity to throw money at everything including the Merseysiders’ best players – most contentiously Joleon Lescott who switched from the blue of Merseyside to the blue of Manchester.

Never mind that City could outbid just about anyone to get their man.

The highlights during their clashes so often belonged to the Toffees whose then-boss David Moyes found a way to frustrate the Citizens.

That run of form has switched full circle in recent years, however, and Everton travel to the home of the reigning champions this weekend very much as underdogs.

Talking Points

Everton are keen to nab a Premier League win when they travel to Manchester City — Everton’s Seamus Coleman looking frustrated after a Premier League defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers

They were a class apart last time out in the Manchester derby even though United were woeful.

And while Everton fared well on their most recent trip to Manchester just over six weeks ago, this time they are taking on a very different beast.

In fact, since Rafa Benitez’s men drew at Old Trafford in early October, they have had subpar Premier League 2021 results since they’ve failed to win any of their four league games, losing three and conceding eight goals in the process.

What chance is there for a change of fortune this Sunday?

Well, they will hope to fare much better than they did during their visit on the final day of last season in an afternoon for City to remember as they walloped the Toffees for five without reply, bid farewell to club legend Sergio Aguero, and picked up the Premier League trophy in front of their delighted fans – albeit a limited crowd due to restrictions.

In mitigation, Everton have had some bad luck with injuries this term and at one point missing their entire front duo.

Indeed, they are still without Dominic Calvert-Lewin (thigh) who impressed so much last term, while midfielders Tom Davies has this week been ruled out following a training injury, joining Abdoulaye Doucoure (ankle) on the sidelines while Mason Holgate is suspended after a red card against Tottenham in a goalless draw last time out.

Of slightly brighter news for the Evertonians, Yerry Mina is in contention to return.

City can welcome back Aymeric Laporte from suspension but it’s unlikely manager Pep Guardiola will change too much from the side which dominated against their city rivals just under a fortnight ago.

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History

The overall history in this fixture could not be much closer. City have 76 wins to Everton’s 68 victories with 47 meetings ending all square.

However, there is no denying who has held the upper hand of late.

City have won the last eight meetings on the bounce and three times last season.

That includes their 5-0 final day coronation, at Everton in the FA Cup quarter-finals, and at Goodison Park in the Premier League last February when Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez, and Bernardo Silva were the marksmen in a 3-1 win.

In fact, you have to go back to August 2017 for the last time Everton took something off City – on that occasion a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium.

Everton’s only league victory over City since 2013 came on Guardiola’s first visit to Goodison Park in January 2017 – a day few Evertonians will forget as they ran out 4-0 winners for the first time against City since the old League Division One in 1986 when Gary Lineker netted a hat-trick.

Betting Tip

	Manchester City vs Everton	Total Goals 2-3 @ 2.22
	November 21, 22:00 (GMT+8)

Everton are so far adrift with the SBOTOP Premier League 2021 betting odds that an away win would earn you a payday to savour.

They are priced First Half 1X2 @ 10.00, 1X2 @ 14.00, First Half Asian Handicap +0.75 @ 2.19, and Asian Handicap +2.00 @ 2.11.

For City, the odds suggest a win is a given. They can be backed First Half 1X2 @ 1.53, 1X2 @ 1.15, First Half Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 2.16, and Asian Handicap -2.50 @ 2.42.

The draw is on offer @ 7.80.

For goals – and there have been plenty in recent meetings – the options include over 3.25 goals @ 2.04, over 3.50 goals @ 2.36, total goal 2-3 @ 2.20, and 4-6 @ 2.50.

For Everton to avoid a first defeat against City in four years and repeat their 2017 1-1 draw, Correct Score will pay out @ 16.50.

I think Everton will tighten up and they certainly had shored up in their last outing. But in the end, we expect the hosts to win.