Manchester City sink to new low as Everton sniff a rare chance | OneFootball

Manchester City no longer has room for big dreams. With six Premier League rounds to go, the aspiration now is decidedly less majestic than in previous years: qualifying for next season's Champions League. The circumstances are, at least, quirky for a side that dominated the last four league titles. This time around, the trip to Goodison Park is as much about limiting the damage as any display of brilliance.

The impact of slipping performance and missing players

Manchester City FC v Everton FC - Premier League | Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/GettyImages

The 2024/25 season seems to be dragging City under like an undertow. The team may not have lost their last four matches, but the performance is hardly what one expects from a Pep Guardiola-coached team. The Spanish boss is working with a patched-up team and minus his star player. "He's also not training. He won't be ready for the next games," he added on Erling Haaland, who is still out.

And it's not just the Norwegian. Rodri, Stones, Aké, Ederson… the list of injuries is taking more than names – it's disintegrating the core. Foden and Akanji have returned to training, but their fit for the game remains uncertain. Discussing the Swiss defender, Guardiola went on to say, "Manu, yes, [he had] two or three training sessions with us. I see him moving really well."

Despite all the frustrations, the coach is trying to see the bright side. "We could be worse off in the Premier League if we had not done a few things well in the last four or five months," he added. That remark is an expression of his effort to keep spirits up, even when the harsh truth hits. City is currently in fifth place with 55 points and is engaged in a head-to-head battle with Chelsea to win the fourth position.

Everton tries to be consistent at the middle position

TOPSHOT-FBL-ENG-PR-MAN CITY-EVERTON | DARREN STAPLES/GettyImages

Meanwhile, Everton comes into the match with no pressure. The team is 13th on the table with 38 points and already knows there is no European race or fear of relegation. The campaign is steady but unremarkable. They have lost only once in their last five games and are coming off four straight home draws — something that hadn't happened since 2015.

David Moyes seems at ease with the situation in front of him and is employing the time to look over the table. He's been speaking positively about the group and atmosphere within the club. "I want to try to look up. I want to make the Club feel better.". I want us all to feel better," the coach said, before highlighting the fans' role: "It's been great with the fans at the moment, because they're coming together, they're supporting us.".

Even without lofty plans for the second half of the season, Moyes is still fixated on player performances and would like to find out for next season. "I think he's much more ready," he said of Dwight McNeil, who has recently returned from injury and already delivered an assist in the win over Nottingham Forest. The trainer continued, "He's had a few more weeks of training and is beginning to get some short minutes."

The record weighs on Everton, but there are openings

Recent history doesn't favor Everton. Manchester City has not lost to the club in the Premier League since 15 games ago. That's 12 defeats and 3 draws since that fabled 4–0 victory in January 2017. In the first match of this season, the two clubs shared a 1–1 draw, and the Citizens have not won both league matches against the Toffees in a season since 2016/17.

But the Liverpool side has managed to build some home resistance. Four successive home draws suggest that, even if they're not winning, the side has made life harder for their visitors. And that may be even more significant now that City is visiting without a number of its top players — and with an attacking performance that's far from flawless.