BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson has backed Everton to raise their game against Manchester City, but expects the reigning Premier League champions to leave the tetchy Toffees empty-handed.
Everton welcome Pep Guardiola’s title holders to Goodison Park on Saturday evening having been beaten on home soil last time out by last season’s Championship runners-up Sheffield United, in a game where the Blues’ supporters booed their players off at full time.
The problems run deep on the blue side of Stanley Park in the eyes of Lawrenson, who expects the Goodison Park faithful to be ‘restless’ in the hope of seeing an untidy Toffees side do more than enjoy spells where they play ‘decent’ football.
Everton have displayed numerous problems at the back this term, as despite starting the campaign with one of the best defensive units – no Premier League side conceded fewer goals in August – they have struggled in recent weeks to allow AFC Bournemouth to sink them at the Vitality Stadium and appear disorganised against the Blades.
They must now look to iron out those errors against the top-flight outfit that has scored seven more goals than any other side with 24 successful efforts in six games – a task Lawrenson does not expect to end well.
“It is fair to say that the natives will be restless after seeing Everton beaten at Goodison Park by Sheffield United last week, and Manchester City will obviously offer an even tougher test,” Lawrenson noted in his weekly predictions for BBC Sport.
“That could help them, because they will raise their game against City – but if they end up losing heavily, then Toffees boss Marco Silva is going to get some grief.
“Silva’s problem is that his side are neat and tidy and play some decent stuff on their day, but they do not seem able to put teams away. I look at Everton and wonder exactly what they are trying to do, and I think most of their supporters feel the same way. I can only see a [2-0] City win here; they are just too good.”
Given Everton’s struggles to maintain an organised shape at the back against Bournemouth or Sheffield United, things could soon become devastating on Saturday evening if the Blues cannot sort things out before Man City get into their stride.
The Etihad Stadium natives demolished Watford last time out through the sheer pressure they applied on the Hornets’ defenders, with their touch map (WhoScored) from the game showing their ease at getting in and around the opponents’ area to create chances.
It was a similar story the last time Man City travelled to Goodison Park, as the Citizens swarmed the field to come out 2-0 victors in a game they enjoyed 61.2% of possession and fashioned 15 shots in, but Everton could look favourably at the fact they restricted Guardiola’s side to only four efforts on target.
Everton fans, can you see Silva’s men taking anything against City? Let us know in the comments below…
