The forthcoming match between Everton and Manchester City is expected to be a thrilling clash, with both teams contending with potential fitness issues. Everton will be closely monitoring the condition of Idrissa Gueye, who was forced off in the 24th minute during their recent defeat at Tottenham. The Toffees also have concerns regarding the fitness of Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman, while Abdoulaye Doucoure is anticipated to be sidelined once again. In contrast, Manchester City midfielder Rodri sustained an injury during the Fifa Club World Cup final but remains optimistic about his fitness for the upcoming game. Nevertheless, leading scorer Erling Haaland is likely to remain unavailable due to a foot problem, and star players Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku may also miss out as they resume training after injury lay-offs.
In terms of their head-to-head record, Manchester City will be aiming for an eighth consecutive away win against Everton, who have struggled in their previous encounters with City, losing 11 of their last 12 league and cup matches. Notably, Everton’s 4-0 victory against City at Goodison Park in January 2017 stands as their sole triumph in their last 20 Premier League meetings.
Furthermore, Everton is looking to secure a ninth league win of the season, surpassing their previous season’s total. Additionally, they are striving to achieve three consecutive Premier League home wins, a feat they have not managed since September 2021. The team’s performance against reigning champions has been less than impressive, with Everton failing to secure a win in 21 Premier League fixtures since their victory against Manchester United in 2012. Under the management of Sean Dyche, Everton have displayed resilience when scoring first, remaining undefeated in 17 league games, but have struggled to mount a comeback when conceding first. Dyche himself has yet to secure a victory against Pep Guardiola, losing 15 out of 16 league and cup fixtures against the Manchester City manager.
Conversely, Manchester City’s recent league form has been relatively inconsistent, with only one victory in their last six matches. The team has also endured a lack of clean sheets, going seven consecutive Premier League games without one. Nonetheless, City’s record in December under Guardiola remains relatively strong, with a 66% win rate in league games. Significantly, the newly crowned Fifa Club World Cup champions have remained unbeaten in the last 47 league and cup games that Rodri has played in, demonstrating their resilience.
All eyes will be on key players such as Grealish, who has scored in three consecutive top-flight appearances for the first time in his career, as the two teams prepare to face off in what promises to be an exciting and closely contested match.