Everton vs Manchester City Preview

January 6, 2016
By: Deke Hardman
Image via thenational.ae

Image via thenational.ae

Tonight’s League Cup action from Goodison Park sees Everton host Manchester City in the first leg of their semi-final.

The hosts, who are the only side left in the competition yet to win it have won just one of their six games since their quarter final win over Middlesbrough while they have also knocked out Barnsley, Reading and Norwich City on route to the last four.

The Toffees have previously reached the final on two occasions, losing to Aston Villa in 1977 and then Liverpool seven years later, and it was their Merseyside rivals who gained an advantage in their semi-final against Stoke City last night, with Jordan Ibe getting the only goal of the game at the Britannia Stadium.

Joel Robles is set to come in for Tim Howard in goal while captain Phil Jagielka and Steven Pienaar are unlikely to be risked and James McCarthy, Tyias Browning, Tony Hibbert and Bryan Oviedo are definitely out.

Top scorer Romelu Lukaku is 6.5 (11/2) to open the scoring with a variety of firms with Ross Barkley available at 11.0 (10/1).

The home win is as highly priced as the 3.75 (11/4) on offer from Sporting Bet with the visitors favourites at 2.1 (11/10). The draw can be backed at 3.8 (14/5) with Sky Bet.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men are favourites to win not just this competition, but also the Premier League and the FA Cup.

They beat Hull City in the last eight, having already eliminated Crystal Palace and Sunderland – the side they triumphed over in the 2014 League Cup final.

Sergio Aguero is set to lead the line with fellow striker Wilfried Bony out injured, while Fabian Delph, Samir Nasri and captain Vincent Kompany also miss out.

Aguero is favourite to get the first goal of the game at 5.0 (4/1) with Coral with Raheem Sterling an 8.0 (7/1) chance with the same firm.

There have been fewer than three goals in each of the last three meetings between the sides, so you may be tempted to back that outcome this time around at a price of 2.3 (13/10) with Bet Victor.

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