Can Everton get anything at City?

Everton travel to the Etihad Stadium tomorrow lunchtime for a Premier League game that is undoubtedly the toughest test yet of Marco Silva’s Blues.

I don’t think many Everton fans are feeling too optimistic about their team’s chances in this match. So is there any basis for hope that the Toffees can get something from this contest?

Until they stumbled to defeat at Chelsea last Sunday, City had looked in imperious form and were firm favourites to retain their Premier League crown.

Despite the injuries to Kevin de Bruyne, such a lynchpin of last season’s success, they had picked up exactly where they left off last May.

In fact in some ways City looked even more imposing a force this campaign. Defensively they had been tighter and players like Raheem Sterling had upped their game another notch too.

So until that trip to Stamford Bridge, there had been few prepared to bet against them becoming back-to-back champions in 2019.

The question is was that loss to Chelsea a momentary lapse, a hiccup on the road to another title, or is there anything more substantial to it?

In truth that game was like most other teams City have played this season. They began in their usual way harrying their opponents, pressing and winning the ball in the final third and then controlling possession and building attack after relentless attack.

They also created several good chances that on any other day would probably have been taken, on this occasion they weren’t. Chelsea though had rarely threatened until a set-piece led to their first goal before halftime.

But in the second half Chelsea grew in confidence and started to create more chances. Playing with a high tempo and aggression they got City rattled and upset their rhythm effectively.

Then they got a second from another set-piece as David Luiz scored from a corner to seal the win.

So perhaps City are vulnerable defending those kind of situations but then so have Everton been all too often this season.

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In truth City have few real weaknesses and Everton have a mountain to climb to get a point let alone defeat them. Given the patchy form the Blues have shown in their past two games they certainly aren’t coming into this match playing anything like their best.

Marco Silva tends to look to play an expansive way and try to win matches. But he has shown the tactical flexibility needed to get a useful point at Chelsea recently and until Pickford’s moment of madness in the derby, the Blues were on course for another well-deserved draw in that one.

Another performance of that quality will be essential if Everton are to come away with anything form tomorrow lunchtime’s encounter.