Can Pep Guardiola overcome his Everton hoodoo? The Spanish tactician has managed to secure only one win in his last five encounters with the Toffees, and with Man City’s top-four hopes hanging by a thread, a crucial victory over Everton is essential to revive their season.
Man City’s struggling squad faces a stiff test against an Everton side that has been on an upward trajectory lately. As Guardiola ponders over his starting eleven, he has a few options to choose from.
For Man City, the likely lineup could see Kevin De Bruyne return to the midfield, partnering with Rodri and Phil Foden. Erling Haaland will lead the attack, supported by Jack Grealish on the left wing and Julian Alvarez on the right.
Meanwhile, Sean Dyche has a solid defensive unit at his disposal, with Yerry Mina and Michael Keane forming a strong central defensive partnership. Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi will provide the width with Richarlison likely to lead the Everton’s attacking charge.
The Truth About Pep Guardiola's Tactical Approach in Man City vs Everton FC

I recommend closely examining Pep Guardiola’s tactical approach when Manchester City (Man City) face Everton FC, as their victory would be a crucial one for the Citizens. In this match, we will look at the team lineups and explore Guardiola’s strategies that could make a difference.
- Ederson (goalkeeper)
- Kyle Walker (right-back)
- Aymeric Laporte (centre-back)
- Ruben Dias (centre-back)
- Oleksandr Zinchenko (left-back)
- Rodri (defensive midfielder)
- Kevin De Bruyne (central midfielder)
- Bernardo Silva (attacking midfielder)
- Phil Foden (attacking midfielder)
- Julian Alvarez (striker)
- Erling Haaland (striker)
Everton FC Lineup:
- Jordan Pickford (goalkeeper)
- Seamus Coleman (right-back)
- Michael Keane (centre-back)
- Mason Holgate (centre-back)
- Vitaliy Mykolenko (left-back)
- Idrissa Gana Gueye (centre midfielder)
- Allan (centre midfielder)
- Alex Iwobi (right winger)
- Dwight McNeil (left winger)
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin (striker)
Guardiola’s tactical approach often focuses on pressuring the opposition high up the pitch, forcing them to make mistakes and creating scoring opportunities. He also employs a high-intensity pressing system, with multiple players applying pressure on the opposing team simultaneously.
Manchester City’s Pressing Statistics
| Team | Pressing Rate | Opponent Loss Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | 63.4% | 23.4% |
| Everton FC | 51.9% | 17.4% |
Guardiola uses his team’s technical ability and pace to maintain a high level of possession, often creating scoring opportunities through counter-attacks. His teams typically maintain an average of 55% possession in a match.
Why Guardiola's High Pressing Could Decimate Everton's Defenders

Pep Guardiola’s high-pressing tactics have proven to be a game-changer for Manchester City, and I recommend keeping a close eye on the team’s performance as they face Everton in their upcoming match.
A key factor in their success is the way they manage to win the ball back quickly after losing possession, often through intense pressure on the opponent. According to data from last season, Manchester City regained possession of the ball an average of 23.4 times per game, a significant increase from the 17.1 times per game recorded the previous season.
| Team | Average Possession Regained per Game (Last Season) |
|---|---|
| Manchester City | 23.4 |
| Everton | 15.6 |
Manchester City’s high-pressing also allows them to create scoring opportunities, as seen in their 6-0 thrashing of Newcastle United in the Premier League earlier this season. Their intense pressure on the opponent forced several Newcastle players into mistakes, resulting in multiple scoring chances for Manchester City.
| Game | Opponent | Score | Possession Regained |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle United (H) | 6-0 | 28 |
Everton’s defenders, on the other hand, have struggled with high-pressing teams in the past. They conceded an average of 1.4 goals per game against teams that employed a high-pressing strategy last season, compared to 0.9 goals per game against teams that did not.
| Opponent's Pressing Strategy | Average Goals Conceded per Game (Last Season) |
|---|---|
| High-Pressing | 1.4 |
| No High-Pressing | 0.9 |
Given Manchester City’s high-pressing tactics and Everton’s struggles against such strategies, I predict a challenging match for the Toffees’ defenders.
3 Ways to Unleash Kevin De Bruyne's Magic in a Crucial Victory

As Pep Guardiola’s Man City face a crucial victory over Everton, I recommend three key strategies to unleash Kevin De Bruyne’s magic on the pitch:
- Midfield Dominance: De Bruyne is at his best when he has the freedom to roam and dictate the pace of the game from deep midfield. To achieve this, I recommend that Man City adopt a 4-3-3 formation with three central midfielders. This will allow De Bruyne to operate in a more advanced role, where he can pick up loose balls and initiate counter-attacks.
| Formation | Position | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 4-3-3 | CM | Kevin De Bruyne |
| CM | Rodri | |
| CM | Ilkay Gundogan |
- Set Piece Expertise: De Bruyne is renowned for his exceptional set-piece delivery, and I recommend that Man City target these situations to create scoring opportunities. To do this, I recommend that the team focus on delivering high-quality crosses into the box, where De Bruyne can pick out a teammate with precision.
| Set Piece Statistics | Man City | Everton |
|---|---|---|
| Crosses into the box | 12.5 | 8.2 |
| Successful crosses | 6.8 | 4.5 |
- Creative Freedom: De Bruyne thrives in a team that allows him to express himself on the pitch, and I recommend that Man City give him the freedom to create and dictate the game’s flow. To achieve this, I recommend that the team adopt a more fluid 4-1-4-1 formation, where De Bruyne can operate as a number 10.
| Formation | Position | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 4-1-4-1 | AM | Kevin De Bruyne |
| CM | Rodri | |
| LW | Jack Grealish | |
| RW | Phil Foden |
By implementing these strategies, Man City can unlock De Bruyne’s full potential and secure a crucial victory over Everton.
How to Counter Toffees' Threats: Man City's Defensive Strategy Revealed

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City face a crucial Premier League clash against Everton FC, with both teams vying for a spot in the top four. As the Toffees pose a significant threat to City’s title aspirations, I recommend examining their defensive strategy to gain an edge.
Man City’s Defensive Weaknesses
In our analysis of the past five matches, Manchester City has conceded 13 goals, with a significant portion coming from set pieces. The Toffees’ potent threat from dead-ball situations is a key area to target.
| Match | Goals Conceded | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Liverpool FC |
| 2 | 1 | Leeds United |
| 3 | 3 | Arsenal FC |
| 4 | 2 | Chelsea FC |
| 5 | 5 | Tottenham Hotspur |
To counter this threat, I suggest implementing a more aggressive approach to defending set pieces. This can include:
- Assigning extra defenders to mark opposition players in key areas
- Implementing a zonal marking system to prevent opposition players from exploiting space
- Ensuring the goalkeeper is adequately protected from opposition attacks
Everton’s Threats
Everton FC’s primary threat comes from their counter-attacking style, which often catches opponents off guard. The Toffees’ pacey wingers, Richarlison and Demarai Gray, pose a significant threat on the break.
| Player | Goals Scored | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Richarlison | 10 | 5 |
| Demarai Gray | 5 | 7 |
To mitigate this threat, I recommend:
- Assigning a pacey winger to track the opposition’s wingers on the break
- Implementing a high press to win the ball back quickly and prevent opposition counter-attacks
- Ensuring the defensive line is compact and organized to prevent opposition players from exploiting space
By understanding and countering the Toffees’ threats, Manchester City can gain a crucial advantage in this Premier League clash.
X Ways Pep Guardiola Can Outwit Everton's Ben Godfrey in the Midfield

I recommend Pep Guardiola employ a few tactics to outwit Everton’s Ben Godfrey in the midfield during the upcoming match. Firstly, I suggest a 4-3-3 formation, with Kevin De Bruyne playing in a deeper role as a holding midfielder, where he can effectively nullify Godfrey’s influence.
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Kevin De Bruyne | Holding Midfielder |
| Rodri | Defensive Midfielder |
| Ilkay Gundogan | Attacking Midfielder |
By doing so, we can see that De Bruyne’s pace and vision will help to restrict Godfrey’s movement and passing options, while Rodri’s tenacity will allow him to win the ball back and start a counter-attack. Meanwhile, Ilkay Gundogan’s creativity will provide an attacking threat and draw the attention of the Everton defenders, creating space for the other midfielders to exploit.
To further exploit Godfrey’s weaknesses, I recommend that Pep Guardiola use a high-intensity press, forcing him to make quick decisions under pressure. For instance, we can see that Godfrey’s passing accuracy drops to 75% in high-intensity situations, compared to 90% in low-intensity situations.
| Situation | Passing Accuracy |
|---|---|
| High-Intensity | 75% |
| Low-Intensity | 90% |
Additionally, I suggest that Guardiola instruct his players to target Godfrey’s blind spot, which is his right flank. By using a combination of width and pace, we can see that the Everton right-back, Nathan Patterson, tends to push forward, leaving Godfrey exposed and vulnerable to attack.
| Position | Target |
|---|---|
| Right-Flank | Godfrey |
By employing these tactics, I believe Pep Guardiola can outwit Ben Godfrey in the midfield and secure a crucial victory for Manchester City.
As the stakes are set high, Manchester City is primed to face a crucial test against the resolute Everton at home. Pep Guardiola’s team will have to summon all their might to secure a vital three points against a determined opponent. With their recent form and home advantage, City fans have every reason to be optimistic about their side’s prospects. However, the Toffees, buoyed by their impressive away form, will undoubtedly pose a stern challenge to Guardiola’s men. As the tension builds, the Citizens will need to draw upon their strength in depth and cohesion on the pitch to break down the Everton defense and emerge victorious. Can they rise to the occasion and cement their place at the top of the table, or will the visitors spoil the party? Only time will tell as the drama unfolds at the Etihad.


