Manchester City vs Everton. The Premier League’s festive fixture schedule kicks off with a much-anticipated Boxing Day showdown between defending champions Manchester City and Sean Dyche’s Everton at the Etihad Stadium. The matches start coming thick and fast now as the 18th round of England’s elite league gets underway. In this Boxing Day round of fixtures, all eyes are on whether City will manage to get their heads above water after a recent disappointing string of performances or whether Everton can build on some much-needed defensive solidity in recent weeks.

Manchester City vs Everton: Form Analysis

Manchester City: LWDLLL

The Manchester City season has been a rollercoaster, with their recent form painting a picture totally different from dominance. A run of six losses in seven games in the Champions League and Premier League has brought Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola to a dead end. Their last match against Aston Villa ended 2-1 in defeat, and apart from the dominance in both possession and attacking intent, it was not short of exposing the defensive weaknesses.

Key highlights from City’s last match include:

• 55% possession and 12 attempts on goal, with only one late consolation from Phil Foden in the 93rd minute.
• A worrying trend of conceding 10 goals in their last six games, underlining defensive lapses.

Still, City have one positive stat for them going into the game: against Everton in the league; they have not lost in their last 14 meetings; a run Guardiola will be determined to extend.

Everton: DDLWDD

The contrast comes as Everton, who is positioned 15th in the Premier League with only a four-goal haul across the last six games, to a solid backline where it has managed to lock 0-0 affairs consecutively against highly impressive Arsenal and Chelsea in respective matches.

Key points from Everton’s recent performances include:

• Failing to score in five of their last six league matches.
• Four goalless draws in their last six outings, showing their defensive focus but lack of offensive edge.
• A dismal away record, remaining winless in their last four road games.

Despite these challenges, Everton’s resilience under Sean Dyche could pose problems for a faltering Manchester City.

Predicted Starting Lineups

Manchester City: Ortega; Walker, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; De Bruyne, Kovacic; Savinho, Foden, Doku; Haaland

Everton: Pickford; Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin

Key Match Insights

• Dominance in Defense: Manchester City have kept clean sheets in six of their last eight matches against Everton.
• Everton’s Scoring Woes: The Toffees have failed to score in five of their last six Premier League matches.
• Underwhelming Attack: Eight of the last 10 games by Everton have ended with less than 2.5 goals.
• Away Struggles: Everton have failed to find the net in their last four away games in the league.

Manchester City vs Everton: Betting Opportunities and Odds

For betting enthusiasts, StarBet offers an extensive range of markets and competitive odds tailored to enhance the excitement of this Boxing Day encounter. Current odds strongly favor Manchester City at 1.34, while Everton are massive underdogs at 8.20.

Here are some betting insights to consider:

• Correct Score: A 3-1 victory for Manchester City aligns with their attacking prowess and Everton’s defensive resolve.
• Goals Market: Backing over 2.5 goals offers value, given City’s desperation to secure a commanding win.

With City’s firepower and Everton’s defensive grit, this clash promises intriguing opportunities for bettors.

Match Prediction

It’s heavily weighted in the favor of Manchester City, but recent performances beg many questions over whether they have the capability to dominate as they did for years. This is going to be an opportunity for City to try and flex muscles once more, particularly with the likes of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne spearheading the attack.

Meanwhile, Everton will look at keeping things tight at the back to frustrate the hosts. Attacking options continue to be limited for the Toffees, too, but recent resilience such as that against Arsenal and Chelsea suggests they won’t go down without a fight. Eventually, the superior quality, combined with home advantage for Manchester City, should enable them to register an overdue victory. Indeed, expect a 3-1 win for Manchester City in a quest to rebuild momentum going into the second half of the season.

StarBet’s football prediction page is packed with expert match analyses, up-to-date team insights, and detailed player stats, helping users place well-informed bets confidently.