This week’s Monday Night Football sees Ronald Koeman’s Everton team travel to the blue half of Manchester to take on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City team. Koeman and Guardiola were former teammates while at Barcelona in the 1990s.
Both sides got off to good starts in their opening games, with Everton beating Stoke 1-0, courtesy of a Wayne Rooney header, while Manchester City travelled to Premier League new boys Brighton and won 2-0, with goals coming from Sergio Aguero and an own goal from Lewis Dunk.
Everton spent heavily over the summer, but it was Wayne Rooney, who arrived on a free transfer who was the difference maker at Goodison Park last weekend. Rooney scored his first Everton goal in 13 years on his return to the club and his side’s victory over Stoke signalled in a new era, following the departure of Romelu Lukaku.
Meanwhile, Kyle Walker was instrumental in Manchester City’s victory over Brighton. The right wing back arrived from Spurs for £50 million in the summer and instantly showed why Guardiola paid so much money for him. City were superb at times and they capitalised on a mistake from Brighton’s Davy Propper to open the scoring.
Manchester City vs. Everton Predictions
Although Everton beat Manchester City 4-0 in the last meeting between the two sides, you can’t see a repeat happening again. This City side are much better than the one that travelled to Everton last season and you can see them winning. They weren’t tested defensively last weekend and that is sure to change this week.
Manchester City vs. Everton Betting Tips
Head to Head
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Manchester City lost their last Premier League meeting with Everton 0-4. It was Pep Guardiola’s heaviest ever defeat in league competition as a manager.
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Indeed, it was Everton’s biggest ever Premier League win over Manchester City, with the Toffees scoring with all four of their shots on target.
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Manchester City are unbeaten in six Premier League home matches against Everton, winning three and drawing three. Prior to this run, City had lost four in a row at home to the Merseyside club.
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Everton last won back-to-back matches against Manchester City in May 2011, when they won four in a row.
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Pep Guardiola’s side have lost just one of their last 22 home Premier League games (W13 D8 L1), which was against eventual champions Chelsea in December 2016.
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Wayne Rooney’s last away appearance in the Premier League for Everton was a 5-1 loss to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
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Rooney’s goal on the opening day against Stoke was his 199th in the Premier League, putting him one away from becoming only the second player to bag 200 in the competition after Alan Shearer (260).
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Only Alan Shearer (11) has scored more goals against Manchester City in the Premier League than Wayne Rooney (8).
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Sergio Aguero has failed to score in his last six Premier League appearances against Everton, his longest current drought versus a top-flight side.
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Before last season, Pep Guardiola had beaten every club he’d faced in league competition within his first two meetings against them. Everton are now looking to become the first team he’s failed to beat in any of this first three matches.
Manchester City Team News
Pep Guardiola looks set to be without Benjamin Mendy, who’s still recovering from a thigh injury, while long-term absentee Ilkay Gundogan made his return against Girona, but may not be in contention to start yet.
Possible Manchester City XI: Ederson, Vincent Kompany, John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Kyle Walker, Danilo, Fernandinho, David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus
Everton Team News
Ross Barkley, Aaron Lennon and James McCarthy are all doubts for Ronald Koeman, while Yannick Bolasie, Roberto Funes Mori and Seamus Coleman are all out injured.
Possible Everton XI: Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, Ashley Williams, Phil Jagielka, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Morgan Schneiderlin, Idrissa Gueye, Leighton Baines, Wayne Rooney, Davy Klaassen, Sandro Ramirez
