Manchester City VS Everton

Etihad Stadium forms the backdrop for a high-stakes Boxing Day clash between downtrodden Premier League champions Manchester City and perennial underachievers Everton. 

Pep Guardiola hopes Manchester City can ‘find a way’ to end the worst crisis in his trophy-laden managerial career after another disappointment at the weekend as Aston Villa toppled his side 2-1. That was City’s third consecutive defeat in all competitions and ninth in their last 12 matches (W1, D2), leaving them outside the Premier League top six at Christmas. Back at the Etihad after a heart-wrenching 2-1 reverse against Manchester United, the Citizens are staring down the barrel of back-to-back home league losses for the first time since May 2021. However, history firmly backs the reigning Premier League champions to return to winning ways against Everton, a side they’ve defeated in 13 of their last 15 meetings (D2), including a 2-0 win in this corresponding fixture in 2023/24.

Everton lost both league meetings with Man City last season via a two-goal margin. But they’ll be confident of flipping that script on Boxing Day after avoiding defeat against Arsenal and Chelsea in their two most recent outings. Both games ended scoreless, testifying to Everton’s well-documented defensive prowess. Indeed, the Toffees have kept a league joint-high seven clean sheets, including three in a row since a 4-0 rout at Man Utd. However, Sean Dyche’s men have notoriously struggled in the final third, failing to find the net in more Premier League matches (9) than any other side, including six of their last seven! Furthermore, they head into proceedings amid a four-game winless run on the road (D2, L2), drawing a blank on each occasion.