Saturday Premier League Cup Preview and Odds – Manchester City vs Everton

August 21, 2017 20:00pm

Etihad Stadium

Recent form (All competitions)

Manchester City: LWWWW

Everton: DWWLW

Manchester City will endeavour to live up to their status as title favourites when they host Everton at the Etihad Stadium on Monday night. Meanwhile, the visitors will be hoping to repeat their achievements of last season when they took four points from their two meetings with the Sky Blues.

Pep Guardiola’s men made light work of newcomers Brighton and Hove Albion last week, running out comfortable 2-0 winners in a game that they totally dominated. Of course, with £200m worth of new players on board, such results should be expected.

The Citizens started last season as favourites but ultimately faded in mid-season as Chelsea went on their crucial winning streak. The Spanish boss will be hoping for more consistency this time round with a team that has been built more in his own image. However, he will have to make do without the injured trio of Nasri, Mendy and Gundogan.

Everton will arrive in Manchester having spent £130m on new players, with £100m of that funded by sales. The imminent departure of Ross Barkley could leave the Toffees with a zero net spend this summer. The question remains as to what difference that will make to their performances this term. The Merseyside club were eight points adrift of sixth-ranked Manchester United last season and have lost their 25-goal striker Romelu Lukaku.

In their opening fixture, the edged to a 1-0 win at home Stoke City in a drab game in which both sides struggled to create goal scoring chances.

The aforementioned Ross Barkley is out injured along with McCarthy, Funes Mori and Coleman, while Ramirez and Bolasie are both doubtful.

Prediction

City look much stronger this term while the jury is still out on whether Everton have improved overall. Ronald Koeman’s men might struggle to get on the score sheet here while City are almost certain to find the net. As a result, the home win to nil looks like the sensible option.

You can back Manchester City to Win to Nil at Evens.

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