Everton vs Man City: Opposition Analysis | Can the Guardiola Juggernaut Be Halted?

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 19: Nico O'Reilly of Manchester City scores their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Manchester City FC at Goodison Park on April 19, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images) | Getty Images Everton ’s return to action, following an extended break for internationals and domestic cup football, has seen the club lose momentum in the slow-paced chase for Europe. An unsatisfactory draw, snatched late on against Brentford has been followed by defeat in the inaugural Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium and then, last weekend against struggling West Ham United — gallingly, both via goals in added time.

Against the Reds , a costly giveaway and poor set-piece defending did for the Blues, and at the London Stadium, the visitors again failed to defend a corner kick properly, before conceding the decisive goal from poor basic marking. All four opposition goals across both matches were soft, by any measure. Throw in the season-ending injury to star man Jarrad Branthwaite – again to his hamstring – and it’s been a glum few weeks for the Toffees.

Whilst they’ve tread water in recent weeks, a couple of rivals in the chase for continental football have pushed on, whilst others have closed up behind the Blues, leaving Everton in eleventh spot in the table, at the time of writing. In what is unquestionably the team’s toughest remaining game, they welcome title-chasing Manchester City on Monday night. Gulp!

Form It’s been a relatively familiar campaign for the serial-winners, following an uncharacteristic slump last season, in that they’ve gradually gathered momentum to mount a late title charge, chasing down front-runners Arsenal . A decision to not spend ahead of the 2024/25 season, coinciding with the loss of key man Rodri, hurt Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering team unexpectedly hard, resulting in a third-place finish, despite some heavy corrective spending (just shy of €220m) in the January transfer window. It’s safe to say that was not repeated last summer!