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2023/24 English Premier League
Matchday 19
Everton v Manchester City
Goodison Park
Liverpool, England
Wednesday, 27 December 2023
Kick-off is at 21h15
Fresh from winning the Club World Cup, Manchester City will turn their attention back to the
Premier League when they take on Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday, December 27.
The Citizens didn't play on matchday 18 as they took part in the tournament in Jeddah, beating Urawa Red Diamonds 4-2 in the semi-finals before running out 4-0 victors against Fluminense in the final.
It was a welcome morale boost for Pep Guardiola's side, who have struggled domestically of late after winning just one of their last six matches in the Premier League.
A 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium on December 16 left them five points off the league summit in fourth place and they've subsequently dropped down to fifth, six adrift of table-topping Arsenal, who drew 1-1 with Liverpool at Anfield on December 23.
Tottenham climbed back into the top four courtesy of a 2-1 win over the Toffees at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to go two point clear of City in fourth position.
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It was a first defeat in five games for Sean Dyche's side after they had won four on the spin to pull away from the relegation zone and they sit four points above Luton (18th) in 16th spot.
Of the teams above the Merseysiders in the bottom half of the table, only Wolves (11th) and Bournemouth (12th) won last time out to remain level on 22 points - six clear of Everton.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin could be a real handful for a City defence that has kept just four clean sheets this season. The striker had a goal ruled out against Spurs for a foul in a build-up and forced Guglielmo Vicario into a fine save with a powerful header earlier on in the match.
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Julian Alvarez scored a brace against Fluminense and will be looking to carry that form over into the clash with the Toffees. The goals have dried up for the Argentine forward in the league after he scored four times in his first nine appearances of the campaign, but has now gone eight games without finding the back of the net.
Dyche praised the performance of Andre Gomes in the capital after he stepped off the bench to score in his first appearance for almost two years.
"He's only just back in and around it. He played a full 90 minutes [for the Under-21s] to lock in being able to take it. I wasn't expecting him to come on that early in the game," Dyche told evertontv.
"I've said all along I can see a future for him at the Club and that I want him around the group, but he'll have to earn it like everyone else.
"He's had a really tough time but to see him out there today was terrific and I thought his performance was excellent once he got into the swing of the game. He was very, very good."
Guardiola insists his players remain motivated to win more silverware after adding the Club World Cup trophy to their collection, although he admits the trip to Goodison will be a real test.
"When I close the chapter, it's for the fact of eight years of incredible work behind the scenes. It's unbelievable what we've done," the Spaniard said after the success in Jeddah.
"I have the feeling that of course today we'll celebrate on the plane and tomorrow we rest. Goodison Park isn't maybe the best to come back after winning the Club World Cup, honestly.
"But we'll try to buy a new book and start to write beautiful histories. The players are still there, incredibly hungry and motivated. I'm really pleased for many people in the Club for many years.
"It's a beautiful day. I could never have thought when I arrived in Manchester that we'd do what we have together, the titles we've won and winning the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Premier League Meetings)
Matches - 5
Everton - 0
Man City - 4
Draws - 1
Premier League Matchday 19 fixtures:
Tuesday, December 26
13h30: Newcastle United v Nottingham Forest
16h00: Bournemouth v Fulham
16h00: Sheffield United v Luton Town
18h30: Burnley v Liverpool
21h00: Manchester United v Aston Villa
Wednesday, December 27
20h30: Brentford v Wolverhampton Wanderers
20h30: Chelsea v Crystal Palace
21h15: Everton v Manchester City
Thursday, December 28
20h30: Brighton & Hove Albion v Tottenham Hotspur
21h15: Arsenal v West Ham United
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