Everton travel to Manchester City on Sunday
The toughest test awaits Everton as they take a trip to Manchester to face Pep Guardiola’s gladiators on Sunday. Rafa Benitez’s troops sit in the bottom half of the Premier League with 15 points in 11 games.
As for the mighty Manchester City, they are eyeing the summit of English football for the fourth time in five years but have increased competition at the top as Chelsea and Liverpool continue to battle hard.
On paper, Guardiola’s side should breeze past this Everton side who are limping with injuries to key players. The difference in quality and depth is substantial and the odds are heavily stacked against Everton. It would take a tactical master class from Benitez if the Toffees are to secure a positive result against the trailblazing Manchester City.
To further add challenges for Benitez, he’ll be without Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Yerry Mina, Andre Gomes and Tom Davies. Mason Holgate was shown a red card in the last game against Spurs meaning he’ll also miss the trip to Manchester. The depth in midfield is quite slim and even though Benitez will be able to put a fairly decent starting lineup, his options off the bench remain limited.
Everton predicted lineup vs Manchester City
Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford
Jordan Pickford is having a steady campaign so far and has not been at the end of blunders that has cost the Toffees points. There has been a substantial improvement in his form and confidence, thanks to a stellar campaign at the EURO 2020. There has been some talk on the transfer street regarding Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Pickford and if Everton are willing to sell him next summer, they’ll be hoping he has a sound campaign between the sticks which could bump up his market value.
The England No.1 could have a busy afternoon in Manchester as the relentless City side attack and test Pickford at any available opportunity. Keeping a clean sheet looks like an impossible task but could only be achieved if the Merseysiders remain defensively sound throughout the game.
Ben Godfrey will start with Micheal Keane at the heart of the back four
Defence –
Right back: Seamus Coleman
Seamus Coleman played two full 90 minute games with Ireland during the International break. He has come back unscathed and will be ready to lead the side at the home of the champions. Raheem Sterling could start on the left flank meaning Coleman will have to deal with the pace of the English forward.
Centre back: Michael Keane
Michael Keane’s lapses of concentration have cost the Toffees dearly but lately the former Burnley man is retracing his path to salvation. His performance against Spurs was one of his best of the season where he was successful in taming the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son. Against Manchester City, Keane has to tackle a different problem, negating the threat of a false nine in Phil Foden who has been superb in exploiting spaces.
Centre back: Ben Godfrey
With City expected to dominate the possession, Ben Godfrey cannot afford to remain out of position. He needs to remain in discipline with the rest of the backline and coordinate with Keane. His pace and ball carrying ability might help the Toffees in launchinmg counter attacks from the back but the 23 year old needs to remain vigilant.
Left back: Lucas Digne
Lucas Digne will be up against Gabriel Jesus who is reaping rewards at right wing after Guardiola’s positional tweak. Out of the two full backs, Digne is likely to get more freedom in surging forward and assisting the attackers but again the Toffees cannot leave the door ajar at the back for City to come and exploit the spaces.
Fabian Delph will start against his former side
Midfield-
Right wide midfield: Andros Townsend
Andros Townsend’s output has dropped recently after putting unreal numbers earlier in the season but that doesn’t mask the fact that he has been one of the most hardworking players in the squad. His defensive commitment will come to aid once again against Manchester City as he remembers to track back and press the opposition. The Toffees will have chances on the counter and Townsend could play a vital role in the attack.
Central midfield: Fabian Delph
After two impressive outings against Spurs and Wolves, Fabian Delph will be in line to start against his former side. The Englishman will partner Allan in central midfield and will play deep in midfield as he did against Antonio Conte’s side. Delph’s renaissance gives a ray of hope to Evertonians that the 31 year old could prove to be a quality solution in absence of Abdoulaye Doucoure.
With Gomes, Davies and Doucoure unavailable, Benitez will have to carefully deploy Delph and make sure not to overwork him and put him at the risk of picking up another injury.
Central midfield: Allan
With Delph playing deeper, Allan could get occasional chances to jump forward on counters but it is likely that Benitez will instruct the midfield duo to stay put and help the defence to stop the overload of Man City players.
Allan has registered 297 pressures so far, equivalent to 29.8 pressures per game, which is the highest in the Premier League. The Brazilian will have the primary job to break down City’s play and win the ball back.
Left wide midfield: Demarai Gray
Demarai Gray should start on the left instead of playing as a secondary striker behind Richarlison as he is much more direct and has space to exploit on the flanks. Some individual brilliance from the former Leicester City man could indeed help Everton and his breathtaking pace could come in handy when the Toffees hit City on the counter.
Richarlison has scored twice in the last four games against Manchester City
Attack-
Striker: Richarlison
With DCL still weeks away from a return, Richarlison will shoulder the responsibility of goalscoring. It is unlikely that Salomon Rondon or Cenk Tosun will get a run in the game. Richarlison has scored two goals in the last four games played against City and he could be a handsome bet for scoring again (if Everton do score against the Premier League champions).
The Brazilian will have to do quite a lot of hard work in both halves as the Toffees cannot afford to slacken their defensive discipline while also remain brisk on counters. He will have to pounce on crosses supplied by Townsend and Digne from both the flanks.
Secondary striker: Anthony Gordon
Perhaps an odd choice but starting Gordon behind Richarlison will allow Gray to operate out wide. Excuses are running out for not including Anthony Gordon especially after the inconsistent displays by Alex Iwobi. Gordon’s bust of energy and willingness to run the distance has surely appealed to Benitez which is why the 20 year old youngster has been getting frequent chances.
Gordon might have minimal chances but he will have to try and capitalize on every opportunity he gets in front of the goal.
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