Prediction: Everton vs Manchester City

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Luckster

Making their Premier League return on Wednesday night, Manchester City will travel to Goodison Park when they meet Everton.

Everton

Starting with the hosts, while Everton might have been frustrated over the weekend as they eventually fell to a 2-1 loss at the hands of Tottenham, Sean Dyche’s men should find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Although the Toffees might have been hit with a hugely controversial 10-point deduction last month, the former Burnley boss has seen his squad come roaring back in some style. Skyrocketing away from a looming relegation scrap, Everton have collected 12 points from their previous five Premier League appearances. Really hitting the ground since returning from November’s international break, the Blues will be relishing a return to Goodison Park here. Although Dyche’s side might be tipped as a real underdog contender when the defending champions visit Merseyside on Wednesday night, it should be highlighted that Everton have suffered just a single top-flight defeat in front of their own supporters since the end of September.

Team News

Once again missing out against Spurs over the weekend, Everton are once again sweating over the fitness of Abdoulaye Doucoure on Wednesday night. While Seamus Coleman might be inching towards the chance to make a first Premier League appearance of the season, the Ireland international is not expected to feature here.

While Dominic Calvert-Lewin might have not bagged a single top-flight strike since the end of October, the 26-year-old will once again spearhead Dyche’s charge at Goodison Park in midweek.

Manchester City

As for the visitors, crowned FIFA Club World Cup champions for the first time last week, Manchester City will be desperate to use their most recent success as a platform to build on. However, while Pep Guardiola’s side might have made real history last season as they were crowned treble champions, the one-time Barcelona boss finds his squad in the midst of a domestic wobble. Last seen in top-flight action suffering an infamous collapse on home soil as they eventually had to settle for a 2-2 stalemate against Crystal Palace, the Sky Blues are already sat six points adrift of climbing to the top of the table. Currently sat outside the Champions League spots, City have remarkably collected just a single win from any of their previous six straight Premier League appearances. Desperate to make up some crucial title ground on Wednesday night, Guardiola’s men will have plenty of pressure on their shoulders when they arrive at Goodison Park here.

Team News

Not making a single Club World Cup appearance out in the Middle East, Manchester City are once again expected to be without attacking icon Erling Haaland on Wednesday night. Likewise, despite inching towards a Premier League return, Kevin De Bruyne is not expected to feature at Goodison Park.

Notching a Club World Cup brace against Fluminense last week and already bagging four Premier League strikes this season, Argentina international Julian Alvarez will once again be handed the chance to spearhead Guardiola’s charge.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Everton and Manchester City last met back on May 14th, the defending Premier League champions picked up a 3-0 victory at Goodison Park.
• Likewise, Guardiola’s men are unbeaten in all of their previous 13 straight showdowns against Wednesday’s hosts.
• However, Man City have remarkably recorded just a single win from any of their previous six Premier League appearances.
• Nevertheless, including their FIFA Club World Cup success last week, the Sky Blues have lost just one of their previous seven showdowns away from the Etihad.
• City have failed to record a single clean sheet from any of their previous seven Premier League appearances.

Conclusion

While Manchester City might mark their Premier League return tipped as a standout contender, Guardiola’s men should be bracing themselves for a stern examination here. Although Everton might have eventually fallen to a lively 2-1 loss at the hands of Tottenham over the weekend, Wednesday’s hosts have continued on a real top-flight romp. Collecting 12 points from their previous five Premier League appearances, Dyche’s side will be confident of causing City’s leaky defence some real questions at Goodison Park.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Luckster