Premier League: Everton Face the Sky Blue Wrath

Everton vs Manchester City

Frank Lampard’s Everton welcome Manchester City on Saturday for a huge Premier League clash, and one which has crystal clear implications for both ends of the league table.  

Following the Sky Blues’ shock 3-2 defeat at home to Spurs last week, the Premier League 2022 betting odds took a slight shudder, and now that Liverpool have closed the gap to three points the race is well and truly on.

Meanwhile, the Toffees are embroiled in a relegation battle and come into the game on the back of a worrying 2-0 loss away to Southampton.

Pep Guardiola’s team has a blip now and then, but the next team in line usually faces a backlash. And Everton are in no shape at the moment to withstand a Sky Blue assault.  

Talking Points

Toffees are in a sticky spot

Lampard knew he had a tough job when he arrived at Goodison Park but the reality hit when they lost to the Saints last week, a result which has left them  in 16^th place in the league table and just two points above the drop zone.

The loss of influential wing-back Lucas Digne to Aston Villa in the January transfer window and the long-term injury to striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin have been difficult blows for the club to take. And while Calvert–Lewin is back in the team, the England man is yet to rediscover his best form.

Everton moved in the window to bring in unsettled Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek and he adds real quality to the team while Brazilian striker Richarlison is a handful up front, but do these players have the stomach for a relegation battle?

Under Lampard, the Toffees have yet to meet a top team with victories over free-falling Brentford in the FA Cup and gung-ho Leeds United in the league, but they fell well short against Southampton and lost away to strugglers Newcastle 3-1.

The Geordies have not been free scorers this season but they cut through the Everton defence too easily.

With defenders Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina injured, Lampard is relying on Michael Keane and Mason Holgate in defence while England keeper Jordan Pickford will have to be at his very best and avoid any rash moments.

Everton are in danger of being one of those teams which are too good to go down who sail too close to the wind.

How will the Sky Blues react to a difficult week?

Manchester Cityfans will have watched the Thursday night Premier League 2022 updates with some discomfort as Liverpool banged in the goals in their 6-0 victory over Leeds United. And on the back of their defeat to Spurs, Liverpool’s big win has blown the title race wide open and the pressure is now on.

Conceding three goals is such a rarity for City. In fact, they had previously conceded three goals in the last seven games combined and that will be the starting point in the Guardiola’s strategy to beat the Blues.  

Centre-back pairing Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias are world-class operators and they can be uncompromising when required as both have accumulated five yellow cards this season. They patrol the defencive third behind arguably the best keeper on the planet in Ederson.

Wing-back Joao Cancelo is as good going forward as he is in defence with six assists to his name, while the Sky Blues have goals coming from every source with Raheem Sterling top scoring with 10 goals while Riyad Mahrez has eight.

I expect City’s response to be clinical.

History

The head-to-head clashes between Everton and Manchester City have been well-contested in the Premier League era, with the Sky Blues winning 23 to the Toffees 18 and there have been nine draws.

But not surprisingly, Pep Guardiola’s side is unbeaten in the last nine meetings with Everton, winning the last six and scoring 18 goals to three.

When the two teams met at the Etihad in November, Sterling, Rodri, and Bernardo Silva were on target as City recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory.  

The Sky Blues are unbeaten in seven trips away from home, winning 10 of their 13 away games this season. And while the league leaders had a run of four wins before the loss against Spurs, Everton have lost four of their last five league games.  

Betting Tip

At SBOTOP odds of 9.75 to win or even 5.20 to draw, the Toffees are not a convincing prospect and Lampard will do well to set up a team which can stop the Sky Blue waves of attack.

For a repeat of the 0-3 scoreline the last time the two teams met, the price is 7.80.

 

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