Prediction: Everton vs Manchester City

Prediction: Both Teams To Score and Manchester City to Win

Odds: 9/5

Bookmaker: Betfair

Manchester City will be aiming to keep up their pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple this weekend as they meet Everton in the FA Cup.

Pep Guardiola’s troops travel to Goodison Park in the quarter-finals of the competition to face a Toffees side that will be also be striving to lift silverware come the end of the campaign.

Everton

Carlo Ancelotti’s men booked their place in the last four of the FA Cup with a thoroughly exhilarating victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Fifth Round last time out. After being 3-1 up, they were eventually pegged back by the Londoners before securing a stunning 5-4 win in extra-time, with Bernard scoring the decider. That win was the second time that the Merseysiders have required extra-time to progress, having also edged past Championship outfit Rotherham United in the Third Round. Elsewhere, they also swept aside Sheffield Wednesday 3-0. Despite their results in the FA Cup, the Toffees actually head into their meeting with City in a somewhat tricky period. They have lost their last two Premier League games to Chelsea and Burnley so will be striving to avoid three consecutive defeats for the second time this season. They will also certainly be aiming to go further in the FA Cup having not managed to reach the semi-finals in any of the last four seasons. In fact, since the inception of the Premier League, they have only been amongst the final four clubs on four separate occasions.

Team News

The Toffees have been handed some considerable injury blows ahead of the international break. Jordan Pickford suffered a problem in the defeat against Burnley so is set to be ruled out and joins the likes of James Rodriguez (calf), Abdoulaye Doucoure (ankle), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (calf) and Fabian Delph (tendon) on the sidelines. Elsewhere, Swedish stopper Robin Olsen missed out last time but should be fine to replace Pickford between the sticks.

Manchester City

It would be fair to say that Guardiola’s troops are having an excellent time of things in all competitions at the current time. Already into the final of the Carabao Cup, the Citizens also booked their place in the last-eight of the UEFA Champions League with a victory against Borussia Monchengladbach. They are now set to face Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals. The current Premier League leaders have also had a relatively untroubled route in the FA Cup, too, batting aside the likes of Birmingham City, Cheltenham Town and Swansea City. They now head into their meeting at Goodison Park aiming to extend a great run in the competition under Guardiola. The six-time winners have managed to reach the last four in three out of their last four seasons, winning the trophy against Watford at the conclusion of the 2018/19 campaign. Their stunning away run should give them huge confidence of doing that once again having won their last 13 matches in all competitions away from the Etihad Stadium.

Team News

The Citizens have a clean bill of health heading into the game but that does not mean Guardiola won’t be tempted to rotate. Raheem Sterling, Aymeric Laporte and Fernandinho all started on the bench against Gladbach so could be brought back into the starting XI. Meanwhile, the Spaniard has Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero to choose from to lead the line.

Key Facts To Consider

• Manchester City have a better head-to-head record between the two sides (W74, D47, L68)
• City have won the last six matches between the two sides, including the 3-1 success at Goodison Park last month
• Everton have not beaten the Citizens in the FA Cup since 1966
• Carlo Ancelotti has a 100% record against Pep Guardiola in cup competitions (two victories in the Champions League)
• The last two meetings between the sides at Goodison Park has ended 3-1 to Manchester City

Conclusion

Considering Manchester City’s recent form and Everton’s injury problems, it is likely to be the visitors who progress on Saturday. The Citizens haven’t quite been as defensively convincing in recent weeks though so both sides are likely to find the net.

Prediction: Both Teams To Score and Manchester City to Win

Odds: 9/5

Bookmaker: Betfair