Toffees Face Acid Test in FA Cup Quarter-final

Everton vs Manchester City

It has been a season of real progress for Everton Football Club.

Notable wins at the home of their city rivals, reigning champions Liverpool, at home to big-spending Chelsea, two successes against Spurs in league and FA Cup and a last-gasp equaliser at Old Trafford have been among their standout results as the blue half of Merseyside make a realistic bid to qualify for Europe – one that remains alive and well in the middle of March.

However, for all that acclaim, there has been real frustration at some unexpected setbacks.

For example, who predicted Fulham winning and winning so comfortably at Goodison Park last month; or that Burnley – with four away league victories all season – would breach the home rearguard twice in the opening 24 minutes last weekend to earn a 2-1 success and seriously damage Everton’s top four aspirations.

It’s fair to say then that it’s very much been a case of two steps forward, one step back for Carlo Ancelotti and his players.

 

Talking Points

This weekend comes the biggest test of their credentials to date – the visit of quadruple-chasing Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup – the last major trophy Everton actually won (in 1995).

But with key men absent, can Ancelotti’s aces unsettle the runaway league leaders?

The recent loss of Abdoulaye Doucoure – likely to miss the majority of the remainder of the campaign with a fracture in his foot – is a massive blow as the French midfielder has been one of their unsung heroes this term, starting 25 league games since joining from Watford in the summer.

What’s more, the man considered their talisman, playmaker James Rodriguez, will also not be available until after the March international break meaning Everton’s engine room is weakened ahead of a crucial tie.

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has also been ruled out of England’s World Cup qualifiers this month after he injured an abdominal muscle so, again, he is out of this Saturday teatime clash.

Perhaps the blue half of Merseyside would prefer this tie to be away from home.

Without their passionate spectators, Goodison Park isn’t as daunting as a venue as normal and perhaps that would partly explain why the Toffees have lost five of their last seven at Goodison – as many defeats as in their previous 23 home league matches.

While Everton try to find more consistency, Manchester City are the polar opposite.

After 21 straight wins, they were finally beaten in the Manchester derby 11 days ago but have since followed that up with three more successive and emphatic victories, most recently in the Champions League in midweek when they brushed aside Borussia Monchengladbach with an arrogant ease.

In theory then, while a tricky tie, City should have too much here. Yet this is cup football, so you write off the spirited Toffees at your peril.

 

History

The overall history in this fixture could hardly be closer. City have 74 wins to Everton’s 68 victories with 47 meetings ending all square.

However, there is no denying who has held the upper hand of late.

City have won the last six meetings on the bounce, including at Goodison Park last month in the Premier League when Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva were the marksmen in a 3-1 win – a match in which Ancelotti was full of praise for the visitors.

In fact, you have to go back to August 2017 for the last time Everton took something off City – on that occasion a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium.

Everton’s only league victory over City since 2013 came on Pep Guardiola’s first visit to Goodison Park in January 2017 – a day few Evertonians will forget as they ran out 4-0 winners for the first time against City since the old League Division One in 1986 when Gary Lineker netted a hat-trick.

 

Betting Tip

	Everton vs Manchester City	Under 2.75 @ 2.08
	March 21, 01:30 (GMT+8)

The SBOTOP FA Cup betting odds are more emphatic than I could ever imagine.

I can’t remember a time when Everton at home have been priced as far adrift as 1X2 @ 7.60 and Asian Handicap +1.25 @ 2.06.

City are hot favourites when you consider you can back them 1X2 @ 1.38 and Asian Handicap 1.50 @ 2.08.

Last month’s 3-1 league victory for City will earn you @ 9.25 if repeated with the Correct Score odds.

So, is it worth taking a punt on Everton with Double Chance – Everton or Draw – @ 2.84?

The 1X2 Draw @ 4.50 is really tempting too (although there must be a winner on the night).

I’m struggling to pick a winner here – even though City are clear favorites to reach a third successive FA Cup semi-final.

A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR () BETS ARE WORTH:
= €20 (Highly confident)	= €10 (CONFIDENT)	= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)

Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.

 

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The post Toffees Face Acid Test in FA Cup Quarter-final appeared first on SBOTOP.