Manchester City did a great job in the Champions League and bounced right back after a tough loss against Chelsea last week in the Premier League. They will now look to build a new winning streak when they play host to Everton on Saturday. Everton has been in really mediocre form lately and is coming into this match after two consecutive draws. But they have not been bad at all this season and could possibly pose a threat here. Manchester City will look to reclaim their spot at the top of the league table as Liverpool have a really tough match on Sunday.
Manchester City (13-1-2) had already qualified to the next round of the Champions League when they hosted German side Hoffenheim on Wednesday. Coach Guardiola used a mix of starters and reserves, and the first half was pretty balanced between the two teams. It was Hoffenheim who took the lead at the 16th minute when Kramaric converted a penalty kick. But it was all Leroy Sane’s game that night, who pulled back even for Manchester City with a direct free kick at the stoppage time of the first half. It was Sane who also scored another goal at the 61st minute to overturn the lead in Manchester City’s favor, who went on to preserve the lead for the final 1-2. Last week in the Premier League they met their first loss of the season when they fell by 0-2 on the road against Chelsea. City was dominant in the first half but saw Chelsea take the lead at the 45th minute on their only shot on target. Manchester City kept pushing in the second half, but Chelsea sealed the win with another goal at the 78th minute by David Luiz. Manchester City has now won three of their last five (3-1-1), having failed to keep a single clean sheet in that span. They are currently sitting at the 2nd spot of the Premier League with 41 points, having scored 45 goals against 9 conceded. They have been perfect at home so far in the league (8-0-0), having scored 30 goals against 5 conceded. Moreover, they have three wins and a loss at home in other competitions.
Everton (6-4-6) are coming into this match after a really spectacular 2-2 draw at home against Watford. The two teams had their fair share of scoring chances in the first half, but it was Everton who took the lead at the 15th minute with Richarlison. But their luck looked to have run out at the start of the second half when they scored an own goal at the 63rd minute. To make matters worse, Watford overturned the lead in their favor just two minutes later, and it all looked like a win for the Hornets. But Everton was awarded a free kick deep into the stoppage time and summer signing Lucas Digne scored a stunning direct free kick to pull even for the final 2-2. Despite the impressive result, Watford is winless in their last three and have won just one of their last five (1-1-3). But they have also lost just once in their previous seven matches in all competitions. Five of their last six matches had Under 2.5 Goals, and only two had goals from both sides. Everton is now sitting at the 7th spot of the Premier League with 24 points, having scored 23 goals against 19 conceded. They have not been very strong on the road so far in the season (1-3-3), where they have scored just 7 goals against 10 conceded. Four of their last five away matches featured Under 2.5 Goals, and only two had goals from both sides.