Verdict, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, head-to-head record and odds for Everton v Man City
Manchester City will look to narrow the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal when they visit Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday, knowing that victory is essential to keep the title race alive. Depending on earlier results, Pep Guardiola’s side could kick off six points behind the Gunners, but with this match serving as one of their games in hand, a win would leave them with two fixtures still to play compared to Arsenal’s one – a scenario that keeps the destiny of the trophy firmly in City’s hands.
Title race finely poised
City’s relentless form has already erased what was once a nine-point Arsenal lead at the summit. A run of consecutive victories culminated in a brief return to top spot after a 1-0 win at Burnley, and Guardiola’s men now enter a defining phase of the campaign. The Premier League season is scheduled to conclude on Sunday, 24 May 2026, meaning every point in the final weeks carries immense weight. City, however, face a congested run-in that includes rearranged fixtures against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, either side of the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday, 16 May. That showpiece match – televised in the UK on TNT Sports and ITV1, and streamed via HBO Max – adds an extra layer of complexity to City’s preparations.
Everton, meanwhile, have their own ambitions. Sitting eighth in the table, they are just two points off the top seven and remain in contention for European qualification. With up to 11 Premier League clubs potentially earning continental berths depending on cup results, the Toffees’ late-season push is far from academic. There is, however, a looming complication: if Everton qualify for the same European competition as AS Roma, one of the clubs could be excluded due to shared ownership by Dan Friedkin.
Key absences dominate team news
The injury lists for both sides are unusually long and will heavily influence Monday’s outcome. For Everton, the most significant absence remains Jack Grealish, the star loanee from Manchester City who is out for the remainder of the campaign with a stress fracture in his foot, sustained in January. The attacking midfielder has since undergone surgery and his surgeon is reported to be “delighted with the progress”, with a return to fitness expected before the start of next season. Even had he been fit, Grealish would have been ineligible to face his parent club, but his influence has been sorely missed – he leads Everton in assists (six, level with James Garner) and chances created from open play (32) this season. Everton are understood to be keen on making the loan permanent, though a fee would need to be negotiated with City.
Defender Jarrad Branthwaite has also seen his season ended by a hamstring injury sustained in the Merseyside derby defeat. The club has confirmed the injury is not a recurrence of his previous hamstring surgery, but he will play no further part. There is better news regarding striker Beto, who missed the recent 2-1 loss at West Ham with concussion. He has returned to training and could be available for selection if he clears the required concussion protocols.
City’s absentee list is equally damaging. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has a groin problem picked up in the 2-1 win over Arsenal. He sat out the victory at Burnley and the FA Cup semi-final against Southampton, and while his injury is not as severe as a previous ACL tear, City are being intensely cautious with a player so central to both the title run-in and the FA Cup final. Questions remain over whether he will feature at Everton, with the club prioritising his long-term fitness for the most crucial remaining games. Ruben Dias, sidelined with a thigh injury sustained in the Champions League tie against Real Madrid, is expected to return to training soon and may be available for Monday’s fixture. Long-term absentee Josko Gvardiol, who has a fractured tibia suffered in January against Chelsea, is expected to start running in approximately ten days and is targeting a return to full training by mid-May. He could potentially be available for the FA Cup final.
The absence of three first-choice defensive and midfield pillars leaves City unusually vulnerable, particularly against an Everton side that, despite a poor recent run – three consecutive defeats, conceding at least twice in each – retains attacking threat. Guardiola will have to balance his side’s creativity with the need for defensive solidity, a challenge made steeper after City were wasteful in front of goal at Burnley despite creating plentiful chances.
Prediction: City’s depth to prove decisive
This is a tricky test for City, whose attentions are split between the league and the looming FA Cup final. Yet Guardiola’s ability to keep his squad focused on the immediate task has been proven time and again. Everton have lost their last three matches and have a defensive record that has conceded at least two goals in each of those outings, while City have won their last five matches across all competitions. The head-to-head history – 83 City wins to 68 Everton victories – also favours the visitors, and bookmakers list City as heavy 2/5 favourites (via Betfair, odds subject to change), with Everton at 9/2 and a draw at 11/4. Expect City to show the ruthlessness that briefly eluded them at Turf Moor and edge a 2-1 victory.
