Prediction: Everton vs Manchester City

Everton

Starting with the hosts, while Everton may have managed to book their spot in the last 16 of this year’s EFL Cup thanks to a 2-0 win away at Sheffield Wednesday in midweek, that does not cover what has been a sluggish start at Goodison Park. Slumping to a season-worst display in their 2-0 defeat at home to a returning Sheffield United last weekend, Marco Silva’s men have lost back-to-back Premier League matches after returning from the international break. Despite breaking the bank over the summer, the pressure is really starting to mount on the former Watford boss and the Blues have now lost three of their last four top-flight appearances. More worrying for fans on Merseyside, two of those defeats have come against the Blades and Aston Villa, two sides who only came up from the Championship over the summer. Now freefalling down to 14th and someway off mounting a European return this season, Saturday’s hosts find themselves enduring their worst run of form since the start of February.
Team News
Andre Gomes (chest) and Jean-Philippe Gbamin (thigh) are out for the foreseeable future for Everton.

Manchester City

As for the visitors, while Manchester City may have watched Liverpool pick up a 2-1 win away at Stamford Bridge last weekend and once again extend their buffer to five points, the mood around Pep Guardiola’s camp should be at a high. Picking up a routine victory away at Preston in the EFL Cup in midweek, the former Barcelona boss has seen his men bounce back from their shock defeat against Norwich earlier in the month. Now winning their last three matches across all competitions, including a 3-0 win away at Shakhtar Donetsk last week, one man to watch at Goodison this weekend will be the red-hot Sergio Aguero, once again leading the race for the Golden Boot, the Argentinan marksman has found the net in each of his opening six appearances this season. The defending champions will also be boosted by their recent success against Saturday’s hosts. Picking up a 2-0 win when the two sides met back in February, City have won each of their three previous matchups against the Toffees.
Team News
The only injury concerns for City are at the back where they are without John Stones and Aymeric Laporte. Despite Eric Garcia impressing in midweek, Fernandinho is expected to start alongside Nicolas Otamendi at Goodison Park.

Key Factors to Consider

• Manchester City have won their last three matches against Everton, including a 2-0 victory back in February.
• Sergio Aguero has scored in each of his six Premier League matches so far.
• Everton have lost back-to-back Premier League appearances.
• The Blues have also lost three of their last four top-flight matches.
• Manchester City have recorded three consecutive clean sheets across all competitions.

Conclusion

With Everton really starting to show some signs of a struggle after the international break and coming off the back of a 2-0 defeat at home to Sheffield United last weekend, the defending champions should see this as a golden chance to extend their winning run. With Pep Guardiola’s side winning each of their last three matches against the Blues, we’re backing Saturday’s guests to leave Goodison with the three points this weekend.
Verdict: Manchester City to win both halves
Best Odds: 5/6