Michael Owen predicts Everton v Manchester City result
Everton travel to Manchester City on Sunday when Premier League action resumes, and they have a tough challenge on their hands.
Rafa Benitez’s side are without a win in their last five games, and Michael Owen [via BetVictor] reckons they will have to wait for their fifth win of the campaign.
Man City are flying at the moment as their title defence remains on track, and Everton will need a miracle to leave the Etihad Stadium with a point.
Owen told BetVictor: “City were very impressive in the derby win against Man United. They controlled the ball and the game, particularly in the last half an hour.
“I thought Kyle Walker was immense at the back, I don’t think there’s a better full-back pairing in the world than [Joao] Cancelo and Walker currently.
“Everton’s 0-0 draw against Spurs was uneventful. They had lost their last three, so it stops that run at least. They haven’t won in the league since September though and the pressure is beginning to build on Benitez.
“It won’t get any better for them here. City are hitting their best form and I can’t see anything but a straightforward 3-0 win for the Citizens.”
Embarrassing result on the cards?
Watford handed Everton a 5-2 defeat recently, but could Manchester City worsen things for Benitez?
The Toffees defence have shipped 16 goals so far despite often approaching games pragmatically.
They have also scored the same number of goals, and Richarlison and his colleagues need to be in top gear to have a chance of finding the back of the net against a defence that have conceded only six times so far.
As Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur have shown this term, City have their weaknesses, and if Everton can execute their counter-attacking plans well, just anything is possible on Sunday.
They will need to be perfect at both ends of the pitch to shock Pep Guardiola’s side, though, and Benitez would have used the whole international break to come up with a system.
His tactical masterclass needs the help of Toffees players, and if they manage to turn up like his Newcastle team once did against City, a surprise could be on the cards.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are plotting January loan-to-buy bid for centre-mid hailed by Jack Grealish last month.
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