Everton welcome the visitors Manchester City in the Premiere League – Round 27. The match will be held on Wednesday, February, 6th, at the Goodison Park (Liverpool).
Everton will not leave the Premiere League for sure, they are ninth-placed with a tally of 33 points racked up in 25 rounds. Their relegation cushion is 11 points. However, they will attain neither top tiers, nor European Cups places. Everton are 15 points behind the Europa League, not to mention the Champions League. The team’s performance is in line with their table placement, their moral condition, and their perspectives. The hosts registered 2 losses and 1 win, then again 2 losses and 1 win. The victories and defeats alternated then – Everton have been maintaining this record in 9 consecutive rounds.
Following an unexpected loss in Newcastle, Manchester City won Arsenal at home, 3:1. So, presently, they are second-placed again, 2 points behind the leading Liverpool, but they featured 1 game more.
The intrigue in the champions’ race is there, and it will probably be in place till the very last rounds. To succeed in this run, the ‘Citizens’ need to avoid slipups like the one they had in Newcastle, as Liverpool are not expected to present regular gifts and make mistakes as they did in the clash with Leicester City (drawing against the side at home). Tottenham Hotspur also count. Guardiola and his team are very aware of this, so, they are unlikely to drop points for the second time in three rounds.
In this league, Everton were defeated by all toppers – by Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham, and Liverpool, and yet by the ‘Citizens’. They will probably be defeated tomorrow either. Apart from the gulf in the class, the players’ mood is totally different. Everton don’t boast any great prospects, whereas the City do. The guests themselves can make the match overscoring, they are most effective in the league (66 goals netted); their 19 games of 25 produced over 2.5 goals. In 13 of these, they made more than 2 goals. Everton are also fine with the effective football – they overscored in 14 rounds. In the 2 latest head-to-heads, Manchester were victorious over Everton, 3:1. Something similar may be expected tomorrow.
Prediction for the match: Manchester City to win & Over 2.5 goals.
