Can Manchester City Move One Step Closer?
The Premier League resumes this weekend and the champions elect, Manchester City, make the short trip to Goodison Park to take on Everton.
The Toffees start this match in mid-table and with 40 points from thirty-one games played, they are out of the race for the European qualifying places this season. Everton are also 12 points clear of the relegation zone, so they have little to play for other than pride during the run-in this season.
Manchester City on the other hand have everything to play for and will be aiming to have the Premier League title sewn up as soon as possible. The Citizens also have a huge game in mid-week against Liverpool in the Champions League, so there is no rest for Pep Guardiola and his players.
Everton come into this match having defeated Stoke City 2-1 away from home in their previous Premier League game. That result means Everton have won their last two league games as they defeated Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0 at home prior to the win over Stoke.
The win at Stoke halted a dreadful run of form away from home but at Goodison trends show Everton have lost just one of their last nine games and that was against second place Manchester United.
Everton have won seven of their last ten home Premier League games, including each of the last three but they are yet to defeat any of the top six.
Manchester City continued their seemingly relentless run towards the Premier League title with a win against Stoke City back on the 12th March. It will be 17 days since their last match when Guardiola’s team take to the pitch in this game.
Trends show Manchester City are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games and having lost their only league game of the season at Liverpool, the only dropped points have come via a draw at Burnley.
Manchester City have won their last four Premier League games, scoring 11 goals and conceding just one. However, they have not had things all their own way on the road and Manchester City have won two of their last five away league games.
They have been held at Crystal Palace and Burnley plus lost at Liverpool but have won their two most recent away matches, beating Arsenal and Stoke City without conceding goal.
Team news and Everton will be without injured midfielders James McCarthy and Gylfi Sigurdsson plus defender Eliaquim Mangala. Centre back Ashley Williams is suspended following his red card against Burnley.
It will be interesting to see Manchester City’s team with the Champions League coming up in mid-week. Sergio Aguero, Fabian Delph and Benjamin Mendy are all expected to miss out and Guardiola may choose to rest some of his players who were on international duty this week.
This match provides a good opportunity for Everton to build on their recent wins but their form against the top teams is poor. Manchester City may make a few changes to their starting XI but they have the quality to score the goals needed to win this match and one move one step closer to the Premier League title.
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