Manchester City host Everton on Boxing Day as Pep Guardiola’s reigning champs are in the midst of a proper meltdown.
WATCH —Manchester City v Everton
City lost 2-1 at Aston Villa on Saturday and they’ve now lost six of their last eight games in the Premier League and are well off the pace in the title race and sit seventh in the table. Guardiola looks stunned on the sidelines, defensively they’re all over the place and in attack they aren’t flowing or creating many chances. City look broken and Guardiola has yet to find an answer for their defensive issues as they look so vulnerable on the counter. Sure, they’re missing big players through injury, but the players they have out there are more than capable of putting in better performances than what we’ve seen in recent weeks.
Everton are on the up, with Sean Dyche’s side picking up back-to-back 0-0 draws against high-flying Arsenal and Chelsea and they’ve kept three clean sheets on the spin. The Toffees will look to put in a similarly resolute display at City, while off the pitch there is plenty of cause for optimism. The Friedkin Group have taken charge of Everton and financial stability has arrived with plenty of hope for 2025 and beyond. The main thing Dyche needs to focus on is keeping Everton in the Premier League as they remain just four points above the drop zone.
How to watch Manchester City vs Everton live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7:30am ET Thursday (December 26)
Venue: Etihad Stadium — Manchester
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Manchester City team news, focus
OUT: Ruben Dias (muscular), Rodri (knee - out for season), Nathan Ake (thigh), Oscar Bobb (lower leg), John Stones (ankle) | QUESTIONABLE: Matheus Nunes (other), Ederson (other)
Everton team news, focus
OUT: Timothy Iroegbunam (ankle), James Garner (back)| QUESTIONABLE: Dwight McNeil (knee)
Manchester City vs Everton prediction
This feels like a game where City will get on top early and Erling Haaland will score to settle them down. It won’t be easy, but they’ll get back to winning ways. Manchester City 2-0 Everton.