Everton vs Manchester City (Premier League): Match Preview, Team News, Head to Head, How to Watch

The newly-crowned FIFA Club World Cup champions return to domestic competition as they travel to Goodison Park, where they take on bottom-of-the-table side Everton.

Recently, City have turned attentions away from the Premier League and Champions League, embarking on duties in Saudi Arabia for the FIFA Club World Cup, subsequently making it to the final after defeating Japanese-side Urawa Reds at the last-four stage.

In the final last Friday, Pep Guardiola’s European champions faced off against Brazilian side Fluminense, dismantling the South American club 4-0 en route to their first ever FIFA Club World Cup trophy and their fifth piece of silverware in the last year.

Julian Alvarez opened the scoring within the first minute as he headed in a rebound off of a shot by Nathan Ake. Phil Foden would find the back of the net, as his shot deflected off defender Nino, which would eventually be marked as an own goal.

The Stockport forward would find the back of the net himself in the second half, as he tapped in a cross from the aforementioned Alvarez, who ended the game with his second of the game, finding the bottom corner and finalising the English side’s emphatic win.

On the other side of Wednesday’s ticket sits Everton, who have been on a fair run of form as of late, dropping their last games against Tottenham and Fulham, yet defeating Chelsea, Newcastle, and Burnley before that.

Abdoulaye Doucoure has been off to a fair start this season scoring six goals, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin has followed suit with three goals of his own. The Merseyside club are still recovering from a 10-point deduction that impacted them last month due to breaches of financial rules.

Fixture Details

Manchester City are scheduled to take on Sean Dyche’s Everton side on Wednesday 27th December, with kick-off at Goodison Park scheduled for 20:15 BST.

Team News

Manchester City appear set to continue without either of Jeremy Doku or Erling Haaland, after neither player was spotted in first-team squad training on Boxing Day at the City Football Academy following their return from Saudi Arabia.

Both forwards returned to individual training plans while in Jeddah during the FIFA Club World Cup, but did not make any steps towards returning to first-team training after withdrawing from the club’s 23-man squad for the tournament.

Kevin De Bruyne is also likely to remain absent as the club look to take their time over his recovery towards full fitness, having returned to squad training during the FIFA Club World Cup but playing no part in the competition.

City will also be hoping that Rodri has made a full recovery following his fitness scare in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, with the midfielder revealing after the contest, “I was very lucky today, to be honest.

“I think it was one of the worst tackles they did in my career. I was so scared because I felt my knee, but fortunately it was nothing. And I said to the player, ‘You cannot do this kind of actions.'”

He closed, “But today I won more than a trophy; I go home safe. But to be honest, I was very close to crying because I felt very, very worried about what happened. But, it’s nothing.”

Head to Head

The match-up between Everton and Manchester City has been fairly one-sided in recent seasons, with the reigning Premier League champions dominating and winning every fixture dating back to 2017, aside from two draws between the two clubs.

How to Watch

For viewers in the United Kingdom, you can view Wednesday night’s live match on Amazon Prime Video.

For viewers in the United States, you can view the match on USA Network, with kick-off slated for 3:15 p.m. EST.

City Xtra will also have full coverage available across our social channels and during our live watchalong on YouTube!