Not too long ago Everton were able to boast a decent record against Manchester City. They were never reliable enough to be regarded as a bogey team but they caused a few problems during Roberto Mancini’s time at the Etihad Stadium, and as recently as Pep Guardiola’s first season in England they were responsible for a 4-0 victory at Goodison that still stands as the manager’s biggest and most inexplicable Premier League defeat.
Everton were not quite as potent a force once Ronald Koeman and Romelu Lukaku had departed, yet a Wayne Rooney goal was still enough to claim a draw at the Etihad Stadium at the start of City’s record‑breaking 2017-18 title campaign. That was only a little over two years ago, yet so much has happened in Manchester and Merseyside since that it seems a lot longer. While City were winning back-to-back titles Everton had to endure a spell under Sam Allardyce, a low point in the eyes of most fans from which they are still struggling to recover. The past three meetings between the clubs have all gone City’s way, and given the manner in which Everton lost at home against Sheffield United last week there can be little enthusiasm for the visit of a side that could easily have reached double figures against Watford on the same day.
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