Manchester City v Everton: TV times, match odds, team news & key stats

Premier League
Sky Sports Football & Main Event, 4pm Sunday

Match odds

8-15 Man City 188Bet
18-5 Draw Betfair
11-2 Chelsea general

Form

Manchester City have recovered well from their shock 2-1 defeat at Newcastle, beating Arsenal 3-1 and then Everton 2-0 on Wednesday in a dominant display where the Toffees were limited to an expected goals figure of just 0.1.

The Newcastle defeat came out of the blue for a City team who have won ten matches either side of that loss, while at home Pep Guardiola's men have triumphed in 18 of their 20 fixtures.

Liverpool's blip has seen City move back to the top of the table, albeit having played one game more, and they are favourites with bookmakers to retain the title while fourth-placed Chelsea scrap away in a tight battle for Champions League qualification.

Maurizio Sarri's side beat Huddersfield 5-0 last time out as Gonzalo Higuain opened his Blues account with a double, but their recent away performances have been poor with three straight losses to nil, including a shambolic 4-0 battering at Bournemouth.

Tactics

Guardiola sprang a surprise last week when Fernandinho was moved into defence against Arsenal, although he was back in the midfield engine room for the trip to Everton, where Aymeric Laporte continued at left-back.

Laporte lacks dynamism in that position but brings a greater defensive solidity in an area where Chelsea are strong with either Pedro or Willian expected to play alongside Higuain and Eden Hazard in the visiting front three.

Sarri's refusal to move from his preferred style of play has been criticised, although he was more pragmatic in the reverse fixture,when Chelsea had just 38 per cent of the possession and forced one corner to City's 13.

Team news

Benjamin Mendy remains a slight doubt and there is a bigger concern over Vincent Kompany's fitness, while Chelsea have been given a clean bill of health.

Andreas Christensen, Ross Barkley, Marcos Alonso and Willian came into the side after the Bournemouth debacle and will be hoping to keep their places in the starting 11.

Verdict

Chelsea were the first team to beat City in the Premier League this season but the champions can get their revenge with a comfortable success and backing them to lead at half-time and full-time in the double-result market appeals most.

Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero missed the December trip to Stamford Bridge and their return should help to change the outcome with City expected to lay down a marker before the sides do battle again in the League Cup final on February 24. City to win 3-1.

Key stats

• City have led at the break in 18 of their 20 Premier League wins this season.
• The champions have scored at least twice in 20 of their 21 home matches.
• Chelsea have lost all three of their away matches to nil in 2019.
• Gonzalo Higuain has scored 38 goals in 37 league matches under Sarri.

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