- Stelling predicts narrow City win
- Everton expected to test Guardiola’s side
- Crucial match in title race
Former Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling has shared his prediction for Manchester City’s upcoming Premier League clash against Everton as the title race enters a crucial stage of the season.
After resting for more than a week, Manchester City will travel to Liverpool on Monday to face Everton on Matchday 35.
With Arsenal at the top of the table, the Sky Blues can’t afford to lose, while they also have an FA Cup final this month.
Pep Guardiola’s side face six teams in 20 days in the final stretch of the season, and with the title race still on, Goodison Park might present a challenge.
Jeff Stelling backs Manchester City to narrowly beat Everton
Speaking ahead of the match, TV presenter Jeff Stelling predicts that Man City will narrowly beat Everton in a three-goal drama.
Stelling pointed out that despite the current Everton being a bit competitive, City should dominate under pressure to secure the three points.
“Trips to Everton don’t usually turn out to be too tricky for City. In fact, they won on each of their last nine visits, a run going right back to 2017,” Stelling told talkSPORT.
“But this is a more tenacious Everton than some in recent seasons, and City will surely be edging now we’ve got to the business end of the campaign.”
He added, “But Pep’s team, they seem to thrive on pressure, don’t they? I think they’ll be good enough, but only just.”
Stelling’s Prediction: Everton 1-2 Man City
Manchester City have dominated fixtures in recent years
As Stelling pointed out, the Citizens haven’t lost at Goodison Park for more than eight years. Guardiola won’t be hoping to break the record, especially at this point in the season.
Man City have played nine times at Goodison Park since 2018 and haven’t lost or drawn a single game, and scored 22 goals in the process.
The home side, on the other hand, have only managed to score four goals against City in the last eight years.
Everton are experiencing a mixed bag of results
The Toffees stand 11th in the Premier League with 47 points. While they aren’t on the verge of relegation, they are having a better season than last year so far, having won 13 of 34 games.
Everton’s recent performances are also a mixed bag with three losses, one draw and one win. They have only picked up four points in their last five games.
The Toffees defeated Chelsea 3-0 at home last month, but they were overpowered 2-1 by West Ham United in their last showing.
Their unpredictability is why Stelling called them tenacious, but considering their history against Man City, Guardiola’s side shouldn’t have much of a problem on Monday.
