High Scorers City Host Underwhelming Everton

Premier League

Football
Published: 06/12/2014

Failure to put away Premier League strugglers Hull City last time out has seen Everton fall six points behind their ideal Europa League finishing position. Tonight (6th December, 17:30), Roberto Martinez`s men take on reigning Premier League champions Manchester City, who are unbeaten in five in all competitions and have put three past their last three opponents.

Manuel Pellegrini`s City were last beaten in the Premier League in October and are the massive 8/15 (Numerous) favourites to secure three points at home. All is not lost for the 6/1 (bet365, betfair, Coral) Toffees, however. The Manchester side have been beaten twice at home already this season, falling to a 1-0 defeat to Stoke City in August and a 2-0 defeat against Newcastle United in the League Cup.

Boylesports have 19/5 on the match ending a draw.

The home club`s run of four straight victories began when they managed to come from behind to beat Swansea 2-1 at the Etihad. Wilfried Bony put the Whites in front after nine minutes before Stefan Jovetic levelled up 10 minutes later. The winner was grabbed when Yaya Toure netted mid-way through the second half, seeing the champs close the gap on the unbeaten Chelsea in pole position.

A Sergio Aguero hat-trick helped the Sky Blues seal a victory over Pep Guardiola`s German titans Bayern Munich in the Champions League, thereby maintaining the team`s hopes of progression through to the tournament`s knockout stages. Aguero converted a penalty with the game 20 minutes young before both Xabi Alonso and Robert Lewandowski put the away side 2-1 up at half time. The Argentinean international`s second and third goals both came in the final five minutes of the game.

Pellegrini`s men also managed to hit three past Southampton away from home to replace the Hampshire side in second place in the Premier League. The game was finely poised at half time, neither side managing to work themselves an opening before Toure was once again on the scoresheet with a goal five minutes after the restart. Substitute Frank Lampard doubled the deficit with 10 minutes remaining before Gael Clichy was the unlikely provider of the third.

Sunderland were the final team to feel the potency of City`s strike force as the Black Cats fell to a 4-1 loss at the Stadium of Light. Connor Wickham put the home side in front though this lasted for a mere matter of minutes before 26-year-old Aguero equalised. Jovetic made sure his team entered the dressing room in front at the half time whistle with Pablo Zabaleta grabbing the third and Aguero hitting his 19th of the season in all competitions following the restart. City have come behind in three of their last four matches. For that reason there might be value in backing Everton/ Manchester City in the half time/ full time market at 22/1 (betfred, Betvictor, betway, Skybet).

Coral are offering 6/4 on the home side hitting over 2.5 goals past Tim Howard in the Everton net, whilst the on-fire Aguero is available at 4/1 (ladbrokes, william hill) to score first.

Manager Pellegrini may well choose to rest Stefan Jovetic with Edin Dzeko now available following his recovery from a calf injury. The Etihad outfit also welcome the return of Eliaquim Mangala from suspension and Aleksander Kolarov who has also returned following a calf problem.

Everton will look to end their run of results without collecting three points following their 2-1 defeat away at Tottenham and their 1-1 draw with Hull. Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku put the Toffees 1-0 to the good in these respective matches.

In good news for the Blues, they have scored at least one goal in their last six matches in all competitions and it`s 2/3 to back both teams to score with ladbrokes.

Defender Antolin Alcaraz has recovered from his six-week long shoulder complaint to stake his claim for a starting spot whilst Arouna Kona and Bryan Oviedo may also feature.

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Any odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of publishing (06/12/2014) but are subject to change.

06/12/2014     © Frixo 2024

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