Everton – Manchester City: Champions Back In The Groove (1-3)
The champions returned to winning ways in the Premier League, although the victory was far from straightforward. Everton’s aggressive approach caught Manchester City off guard, yet City, inspired by Pep Guardiola’s second-half adjustments, orchestrated another comeback to clinch a crucial win.
Tactical analysis and match report by Rahul Madhavan.
November cast a shadow over the blue half of Merseyside as Everton found themselves in a dire situation after the Premier League imposed a ten-point deduction. Plunging into the relegation zone with just four points from twelve games, the team faced a daunting task.
Yet, Sean Dyche’s men, buoyed by support at Goodison Park, staged an impressive turnaround. Following their defeat to Manchester United post the points deduction, the team secured four consecutive wins, keeping four clean sheets before a narrow loss to Tottenham Hotspur halted their streak. As Goodison Park prepared to welcome the newly crowned World Champions, Everton were determined to extend their run of form.
On the flip side, the blue half of Manchester concluded 2023 on a high note, winning the Club World Cup in Jeddah and adding another accolade to their trophy cabinet. However, Manchester City’s performance in domestic competitions has hit a rough patch, with Pep Guardiola managing just one win in his last six games. These results have caused them to slip to fifth in the standings. A victory over the in-form Everton side would not only make a resounding statement but, more significantly, put them back into contention for the title race.
Dyche had a couple of injury concerns within the squad, prompting changes . . .
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