Everton Form
In their last five league matches the hosts have beaten only a crisis-hit Chelsea (3:0), while three games after the international break have yielded just a single point. Everton have dropped out of the race for European places and slipped into the bottom half of the table. In the previous round against West Ham United (1:2) the home side almost snatched a draw but conceded a decisive goal right at the end. The London strugglers needed only 1.17 xG and three shots on target to score twice past Pickford, and West Ham United's defence no longer looks like a solid block.
Key numbers for Everton:
Everton have collected only 22 points at home – the worst record among the top 12 in the Premier League.
At home Everton have accumulated 23.43 xG – only four teams have less.
Everton have suffered 15 defeats in their last 17 head-to-head meetings with Manchester City.
Potential Everton Lineup (4-2-3-1): Jordan Pickford – Vitaliy Mykolenko, Michael Keane, James Tarkowski, Jake O'Brien – James Garner, Idrissa Gueye – Iliman Ndiaye, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Dwight McNeil – Thierno Barry
Unavailable: Beto, Jarrad Branthwaite, Jack Grealish (all – injury)
Manchester City Form
After their exit from the Champions League, where the visitors failed to put up a fight against Real Madrid (1:5 on aggregate), Manchester City have hit a purple patch. The team are on a run of six consecutive victories, during which they have beaten Arsenal twice (2:0 in the League Cup final and 2:1 in the Premier League). In the FA Cup semi-final the visitors laboured for a long time against Southampton (2:1) and even conceded first, but the closing stages belonged to them. Doku and Nico scored stunning goals, and the final xG difference was telling (2.06-0.17). The side made 65 touches in Southampton's penalty area, even though Haaland was on the pitch for only 20 minutes. The varied attacking play of the visitors gives them an advantage against any opponent.
Key numbers for Manchester City:
Since 20 February the side have had the best xG figure in the Premier League (17.81).
Manchester City have scored 28 goals away from home – only Chelsea (30) have a better away attack.
Manchester City have scored 2 or more goals in five of their last six matches.
Potential Manchester City Lineup (4-1-4-1): Gianluigi Donnarumma – Nico O'Reilly, Nathan Ake, Marc Guehi, Matheus Nunes – Nico Gonzalez – Jeremy Doku, Rayan Cherki, Savinho, Bernardo Silva – Erling Haaland
Unavailable: Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Rodri (all – injury)
