Everton vs Manchester City Prediction: Toffees could trouble faltering champions

Everton welcome Premier League champions Manchester City to Goodison Park on Wednesday, 27th December and the Toffees should be confident after beating Newcastle and Chelsea in their last two home league games.

City were crowned Club World Cup champions last week but they have won only one of their last six domestic matches and can expect a tough contest kicking off at 8.15pm. 

Match Odds

Manchester City's only win in their last six Premier League games came at lowly Luton but they are 4/7 to beat 9/2 hosts Everton with the draw priced up at 16/5.

City have scored the opening goal in each of their last 12 league and cup games against Everton and they are 7/5 to be leading at half-time and full-time at Goodison Park.

Everton have won four of their last five league matches to nil and are 9/1 to claim another victory with a clean sheet against the champions.

Team News

Everton are missing midfielder Idrissa Gueye so Andre Gomes, who replaced Gueye after his injury at Tottenham, should start. Seamus Coleman, Ashley Young and Abdoulaye Doucoure face fitness tests for the Toffees.

Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne could return to the squad for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in August. De Bruyne will be eased back to action by Pep Guardiola but Erling Haaland, Rodri and Jeremy Doku are pushing for starts.

Everton Total Goals - Over 1.5 @ 11/4

Manchester City won the Club World Cup thanks to comfortable victories to nil against Urawa Reds and Fluminense but their defence has struggled in the Premier League recently.

City have kept only two clean sheets in their last 15 matches, conceding 12 times in their last six outings including a 4-4 draw at Chelsea and a 3-3 draw at home to Tottenham.

They blew a 2-0 lead at home to draw 2-2 with Crystal Palace last time out and Everton look a big price to score over 1.5 goals on Wednesday.

The Toffees are on the charge after winning five of their last seven league matches. They beat Newcastle 3-0 and Chelsea 2-0 in their last two at Goodison Park and also created plenty of chances in recent defeats to Manchester United and Tottenham.

Sean Dyche's men racked up eight shots on target and hit the woodwork in Saturday's 2-1 loss at Spurs and, back on their own patch, they should relish a crack at the champions' defence.

#PickYourPunt - Draw, Both Teams To Score & Andre Gomes to be carded @ 9/1

Four of Manchester City's last six league matches have ended in score draws, with a 1-1, a 2-2, a 3-3 and a 4-4 on their recent record.

Guardiola's side look vulnerable favourites against an in-form Everton side so backing the draw and both teams to score are the first two legs of Wednesday's #PickYourPunt.

Andre Gomes had an action-packed first league appearance of the season for Everton at Tottenham, coming on for the injured Idrissa Gueye and finishing the game with a yellow card and a goal.

Gomes should start in central midfield on Wednesday and he will have plenty of defensive work to do against a slick City side. The Portuguese midfielder has been cautioned 20 times in just 66 Premier League starts for Everton and another booking may well be on the cards.

Find more Football Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights