Everton vs Man City Prediction, Pick, Premier League Odds

Everton vs Man City Prediction, Pick, Premier League Odds article feature image
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Erling Haaland of Manchester City (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

It will be a Boxing Day clash of styles and form when Everton visits Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, December 26, at 7:30 a.m. ET.

Here's my Everton vs. Man City prediction and Premier League odds for this match.

Everton vs. Man City Prediction, Pick, Odds

Everton Logo
Thursday, Dec 26
7:30 a.m. ET
Man City Logo
Everton Odds
SpreadTotalMoneyline
+1.5
-113
2.5
-175o / 137u
+600
Man City Odds
SpreadTotalMoneyline
-1.5
+101
2.5
-175o / 137u
-300
Odds via bet365. Get up-to-the-minute SOCCER odds here.
bet365 Logo
  • Everton vs. Man City moneyline odds: Everton +600, Draw +475, Man City -300
  • Everton vs. Man City over/under: 2.5 Goals (Over -175, Under +137)
  • Everton vs. Man City pick: Under 2.5 goals

I am backing Under 2.5 goals in the Man City vs. Everton match.

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Everton Prediction

Everton are quickly becoming the quintessential Sean Dyche team. The rough-voiced coach is one of the last surviving managers to carry the flag of one route, direct football and four-four-two formation, with the Toffees looking every bit the part. No team has a lower accumulated xG total heading into Boxing Day than Everton’s 15.8, albeit with fewer games due to the Merseyside derby's postponement.

Despite Everton still sitting 15th in the table, it seems the departure of former owner Farhad Moshiri has lifted a collective weight from everyone's shoulders at Goodison Park. The statistics say the team has only won one of its last eight Premier League games, but a deeper look will also find back-to-back 0-0 ties to title contenders Chelsea and Arsenal — the latter of those away from home — since the new ownership, American company Friedkin Group, completed the acquisition.

Still, the clash of vintage English football and Guardiola's juego de posición tiki-taka bodes badly for the Toffees. Throughout his tenures at Burnley and Everton, Sean Dyche lost all but one of his 17 matchups with the Spanish coach, including losses in his last 11 Premier League meetings with City.

Without much in the way of injuries or suspensions, Everton hopes that returning striker Armando Broja will fire up an attack that has scored a grand total of five goals in the last eight games. Their air-game superiority should give them the upper hand on set plays and foil any last-minute attempts by City if the game is close by the dying minutes.

But that's just about it. Fingers crossed?

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Man City Prediction

This is the worst Manchester City team Pep Guardiola has coached. It's not even up for debate at this point. The Citizens have won just one of their last 12 matches across all competitions, scoring an
average of 1.17 goals per game, figures closer to those of relegation strugglers than even his 2016-17 debut campaign, let alone any of his title-winning sides.

Back-to-back 2-1 losses against Manchester United and Aston Villa saw City drop to seventh in the league table, an incredible 12 points behind top-spot Liverpool.

Part of it has undoubtedly been due to injuries. Rúben Dias, Rodri, Mathues Nunes and Oscar Bobb are all out. The returning John Stones only played 45 minutes against Villa, and Nathan Aké was an unused sub. Starting goalkeeper Ederson, whose passing from the back remains key for Guardiola's style, is still in doubt, but midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is expected to return after sitting out the game against Villa.

Others have simply not performed up to standard. Jack Grealish is yet to score in 2024, and Phil Foden opened his tally last Saturday. Erling Haaland has only scored three times since September, and Jeremy Doku and Savinho seem unable to replicate their previous form.

Still, the lingering feeling is that City is too good to continue struggling for long. A Boxing Day miracle could be all Guardiola's team needs to click into gear. The Citizens have won each of their last seven home games on December 26th per Opta, so this presents the perfect opportunity to turn the narrative around.


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Everton vs. Man City Prediction

I'd love to feel bold enough to back Everton as it would make for a perfect underdog story. However, Everton have only won one of the past 22 matches against Manchester City in the Premier League, and no recent form issues are taking that stat away from my mind.

Haaland has failed to score in City's past three league games, but has never gone four consecutive matches without a goal. Also, he has scored in all three previous Premier League appearances against Everton.

Do not expect a goal festival, as Everton will surely aim for another 0-0 to be proud of. Still, City has the tools to beat anyone, even if it's in a scrappy contest.

Everton vs. Man City Pick: Under 2.5 goals

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