Manchester City’s Premier League advantage has been chopped down to three points as Liverpool narrow the gap on the champions but Pep Guardiola’s will be sensing a great opportunity to double that lead against the Reds’ Merseyside rivals Everton.
City’s trip to Goodison Park is the highlight of eight matches on the Premier League coupon with the EFL Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool meaning a slightly curtailed top-flight card, which might be shorter on numbers but is high on intrigue at the top and bottom.
City Can Bounce Back in Style
The last time City lost in the Premier League – a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in late October – they responded with a devastating 12-match winning run in the league and it is logical to expect Guardiola’s team to bounce back from the shock of the dramatic 3-2 defeat at the hands of Tottenham last week.
It was possibly the wake-up call needed by front-running City, who usually love to play Everton anyway with the Manchester men going in search of a perfect tenth straight success.
Nine of those were by at least two goals, including an easy 3-0 success in November when City recorded 78 per cent possession and allowed Everton only four shots, one of which was on target.
Rafa Benitez was the Toffees manager on that occasion and not much has changed since Frank Lampard arrived. Everton lost the shots on target count 11-0 at Southampton last week and backing City -1.5 on the Asian handicap at 10/13 makes much more appeal than the straight away win at 20/73.
Everton have not defended very well this campaign and City’s galaxy of attacking talents including Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez could run riot if the home team get in a position where they are chasing the game.
Count On Another United Late Show
Manchester United recovered from a slow start to grab a 1-1 draw away to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday and Ralf Rangnick’s outfit could also be doing their best work in the latter stages of Saturday’s home league clash with Watford.
𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐍 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐃
This time tomorrow
#MUFC | #MUNWAT pic.twitter.com/fWSRIpRWAa
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 25, 2022
It is quite clear that United are a better team in the second period and six of their last eight wins in the Premier League were achieved with the match being tied at half-time.
That eventuality is 49/20 and patience could well be needed given Watford are likely to arrive at Old Trafford with the intention of frustrating the hosts.
Son to Shine Again Against Leeds
There are quite a few tricky afternoon games with out-of-form Brentford hosting relegation rivals Newcastle, Aston Villa travelling to Brighton and Burnley looking to continue their recent upturn in fortunes against a decent Crystal Palace outfit.
Sunday is just as tough with European hopefuls West Ham and Wolves doing battle at the London Stadium.
A better bet could come at Elland Road in the early Saturday start as Leeds tackle Tottenham on the back of leaking four to Manchester United and six at Liverpool.
Leeds have conceded 35 goals in their last 11 Premier League games and allowed the most shots and efforts on target this season with Marcelo Bielsa’s boys possessing the worst defensive record in the Premier League.
Spurs like to run into space and the Harry Kane-Heung-Min Son combination could work wonders again. Son scored in both matches against Leeds last term and can open the scoring at odds of 16/5.
*All odds correct at time of writing.
