Lyndon Lloyd 26/12/2024 41comments  |  Jump to last
Match Preview

Everton’s final away fixture of 2024 is a trip to the Etihad to face a wounded and reeling Manchester City who have lost nine of the last 12 games in all competitions.

The spectacularly uncharacteristic collapse in Pep Guardiola’s team’s form of late might make this fixture less of a formality for City than it normally is. The Blues, having ground out goalless draws against Arsenal and Chelsea, should travel with a degree of optimism that they might be able to pray on their hosts’ newfound fragility.

With Sean Dyche’s men struggling to score goals, however, three points might be more than a little optimistic.

Dyche has ruled out Dwight McNeil due to the knee complaint that has sidelined him for the last two games but the manager is able to welcome Armando Broja back after he was forced to miss the game against his parent club, Chelsea.

The on-loan striker is unlikely to start, however, meaning that apart from bringing Séamus Coleman in for the suspended Ashley Young, Dyche could well name an unchanged lineup.

That would mean Jack Harrison continuing in the wide-right role and Abdoulaye Doucouré playing off Dominic Calvert-Lewin, which he did so effectively on Sunday afternoon.

Guardiola has made changes to his team in an effort to turn results around recently but, while his starting 11 will be hard to predic,t he does, of course, have a wealth of talent and options at his disposal.

Regardless of City’s form, this will be a very difficult fixture for Everton, and once again a point would be regarded as an excellent result.

However, if they can keep it tight and perhaps edge themselves ahead in the second half, a magnificent outcome is not beyond the realms of possibility.

Kick off: 12:30 pm, Thursday, 26 December 2024

Referee: Simon Hooper

VAR: Alex Chilowicz

Last time: Manchester City 2 - 0 Everton

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Mangala, Harrison, Ndiaye, Calvert-Lewin

 

Reader Comments (41)

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Paul Traill
1 Posted 26/12/2024 at 07:08:56
Thanks Lyndon. Happy Christmas everyone.

I'm daring to dream we can get a result in this one. UTFT.

Michael McCabe
2 Posted 26/12/2024 at 07:12:23
Merry Christmas to all Blues from Australia. I think a rare Calvert Lewin Goal might make the difference. So I can see 3 points hopefully.
Dennis Stevens
3 Posted 26/12/2024 at 07:13:25
I see Doucouré's gone missing before the match even kicks off - typing in a hurry, Lyndon? Or maybe something more subliminal?
Laurie Hartley
4 Posted 26/12/2024 at 07:39:54
I would be happy with a point from this one but I am hoping that we achieve the unexpected.
Derek Knox
5 Posted 26/12/2024 at 07:43:55
Dennis, you almost made my day there about Doucoure, but hopes were dashed when it was just a projected team omission by Lyndon. Thanks Lyndon too, for giving us brief hope.

I think we may get something today, not saying we'll win, but after faring well against both Arsenal and Chelsea, anything is possible.

Paul Ferry
6 Posted 26/12/2024 at 07:47:06
Everything Derek said. Off to zzzzzzz a long day of champagne, red, white, and rose, and bacon and sauted tomato sarnies heavy on the butter.

COYB

Paul Ferry
7 Posted 26/12/2024 at 07:48:35
Love that Laurie, a point would not be unexpected.
Paul Birmingham
8 Posted 26/12/2024 at 08:00:33
All The Best to every one and a great Blue Boxing Day for Everton at City.

I reckon Seamus will replace Ashley Young and Paterson, replaces Seamus after 55 mins, and I hope Broja, starts today.

I think he can wind up a defence low on confidence and belief.

It's there for the taking based on their games the last 2 months.

Everton are very good value for at least a point and I hope for many reasons Everton can win today.

UTFTs!
🍻🍻💙🤍🍀🍀

Colin Crooks
9 Posted 26/12/2024 at 08:04:07
Love Christmas. Love boxing day even more. Always great sport.

We probably need to score first if we are going to win (set piece?), but lets keep it tight too. The longer it goes the more nervous they will get

Steve Shave
10 Posted 26/12/2024 at 08:20:40
Merry Christmas to all on TW. I think we might steal another 0-0 draw but most teams who have beaten city lately have done so by going at them, we aren’t very good at that are we?

That said I’ve been feeling less annoyed with SD lately. I want to see Thelwell backed in the window with some quality added in attack and an excellent RB. We could build on our new found solidity. COYB.

Bobby Mallon
11 Posted 26/12/2024 at 08:28:12
I think we need to play two strikers with either broya or DCL dropping into a defensive role. Watching villa was like that's how you win against City.
Matt Traynor
12 Posted 26/12/2024 at 08:34:31
Del #5 - Lyndon has us starting with 10 men, and you always claim playing with the Duke is like playing with 10 men, so what's the problem?

Merry Christmas to all Blues out there, from the Philippines - where Christmas celebrations start in September.

Kevin Edward
13 Posted 26/12/2024 at 08:39:10
City are on a run of results which is quite remarkable and no-one saw it coming.

They will surely turn around their poor performances of late at some point and it might be today, but I can’t see Dyches tactics making it easy for them and we could take the points with a bit of luck.

We need to score a goal and there’s the problem, but I’d settle for another point and clean sheet just to keep the train on the tracks.

I wonder if there’s another ‘Brighton away’ out of the blue goalfest brewing? It would be a Boxing Day treat if it was to be today.

Enjoy the Turkey sandwiches blues! Up the Toffees!

Dean Johnson
14 Posted 26/12/2024 at 08:48:27
Good luck everyone. Fingers crossed for us all that city are still beatable.
Tony Graham
15 Posted 26/12/2024 at 09:03:14
Can,t see us getting anything today, sorry but the realist in me says 2-0 HOME WIN...
John Keating
16 Posted 26/12/2024 at 09:04:43
A month ago looking at the December fixtures I didn’t see even one point never mind two
Getting a point against both free scoring teams, and more importantly two clean sheets, in my eyes were bonuses.
I would be made up if we could achieve a similar result against City.
Admittedly City are on a bad run but they still have players and a manager who can and will turn things around.
Hopefully starting after today’s game!
Rob Hooton
17 Posted 26/12/2024 at 09:04:48
Let’s hope that we can keep the pressure on City and that they have another poor game - then the press can write more tripe about poor Pep and his flaky scalp (as we wouldn’t get any credit even if we did manage to beat them).

We need a goal badly! Other teams have taken the game to City of late and have seen where they are vulnerable, we’ll have to do it our own way if we are to get something out of this game.

Looking forward to it, which I thought would be impossible a few weeks ago.

Neil Lawson
18 Posted 26/12/2024 at 09:06:07
Harrison and Doucoure to score? Better to just dream of a white Christmas !
Bob Parrington
19 Posted 26/12/2024 at 09:49:34
Merry Christmas everybody. I expect a draw but hope for a win. Perhaps we can find the net again as we did against Wolves.
Mike Kehoe
20 Posted 26/12/2024 at 09:50:30
Things feel a little different with new owners in place and recent performances against very good teams, usually I would be thinking we would gift a hapless forward in a goal drought a boost to his confidence and make him look like Pele for a minute or let a shit team rediscover their form but I expect us to get something from these today.
Cautious optimism.
COYB
Danny O'Neill
21 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:03:40
Let's go and get something Everton. Frustrate them, but try, just try, to play with some freedom. It will be the best chance you've had in years.

I can't see too many changes, if any today. Go and play with confidence Everton.

Terry Murray
22 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:04:36
Festive greetings to all Evertonians all over the world including Reinhard in Germany.
Derek Knox
23 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:07:10
Danny @ 21, great to see you back mate ! 👍💙
Dave Edward Williams
24 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:11:55
Blues still unbeaten since I moved so I am calling a 1-1 draw.
John Raftery
26 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:19:12
Happy Boxing Day to all. A few weeks ago we might have thought this match would be a free hit. No longer. We must play with the conviction we should get at least a point today. A repeat of our 3-1 win at Maine Road on Boxing Day 1968 would of course be even better.
Lee Courtliff
27 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:20:42
I think we all know that we're the team you want to play if you're on a bad run, or a barren run for a striker. We've been down this road many times, but you just never know in football. It must be the most unpredictable sport in the world!

Merry Christmas everyone, hope you all had a great time with family friends yesterday.

Mark Murphy
28 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:22:15
Yay! Danny’s back out on the grass!
UTFT
Tony Abrahams
29 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:27:40
A team on the way down against a club that is hopefully on the way up, but with such a big gap in quality between the two squads, it still wouldn’t surprise me to see Everton get a very bloody nose today.

I hope everyone had a very good Christmas, especially Lyndon and Michael, who must work so hard to keep this wonderful website operating, so let’s hope Everton give them both something worth writing about this afternoon🤞

Scott Hamilton
30 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:27:56
Chances of a mini-hurricane at The Eithad to level the playing field somewhat?

UTFT!!!

Mark Murphy
32 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:35:24
I’ve only just seen the kick off time!
I’ll be on our traditional Boxing Day walk around Petworth Park with my family so will be blissfully unaware of developments at the Etihad.
Hopefully I’ll have a pleasant surprise when I turn on the car radio @ one ish…
UTFT
James Hughes
33 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:39:31
They are in a bit of a mess and I could believe that Dyche has a goal in tye team then 0-1 to us.

otherwise a repeat of Chelski

Terry Farrell
34 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:42:34
Well said Tony yes Lyndon and Michael do a great job. Went to this fixture last season and we were doing ok for about an hour until Haaland suddenly went into overdrive and won the game. Hopefully we can contain them in front of our back 4 and hit them on the break. Would start Lindstrom for Harrison and still think he will come good soon! Coyb!!
Joe Aylward
35 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:43:18
11.30 pm kick off in Adelaide tonight so thankfully won’t be too knackered in the morning - great to see Lyndon reinvoking the Moyes mantra of KITAP1 😊 - it might just work tonight!
Robert Tressell
36 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:43:20
Hard work, a good attitude, good organisation and a bit of luck. COYB.
Laurie Hartley
37 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:46:23
Paul # 7 - I think perhaps I have just posted my second ambiguous comment for the week.

By way of explanation - Given we have drawn with Arsenal and Chelsea in our last two games another draw is a reasonable expectation. By the “unexpected” I meant a win at the Etihad. You never know - Pep might have to wear mittens after this one.

Up the Blues! (the real and original ones).

Dave Abrahams
38 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:48:34
I’m hoping for a point at least but I think Ashley Young adds a lot of stability to this team and I hope we don’t miss him too much.

We can win with more aggression up front so the sooner Beto or Broja comes on the better.

Andrew Grey
39 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:50:44
John Keating - 16 -

It's actually 5 points in December so far... We don't win that often but when we do it should be harder to forget! :)

Paul Johnson
40 Posted 26/12/2024 at 10:51:31
Now is a great time to playing City and if we can get in front early it will dent their fragile confidence. So not saying we should go crazy but on the front foot from the off and hope we can get ahead. Then we will see what they are made off. Would put Tarkowski all over Haaland as well.
Here is to an Everton boxing day win COYB
Robert Williams
41 Posted 26/12/2024 at 11:06:06
It's not so long ago that Godfrey was winding up Haaland.

I wonder how Branthwaite will handle him today. CYBs

Jerome Shields
42 Posted 26/12/2024 at 11:06:56
Good Luck, Everton.

Dyche will set up Defensive.
Pickford needs to be on his game.

Tony Dunn
43 Posted 26/12/2024 at 11:16:12
Mark Murphy@32,

Enjoy the deer. I'm staying with relatives in Tillington before heading home to Spain. Sadly down in Cornwall at the moment or I'd be in Petworth Park myself. Small world! UTFT

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