Everton vs Manchester City

Hill Dickinson Stadium
Monday, 4 May, 2026
Kick-off: 8pm

Everton’s 4-0 victory over Manchester City at Goodison Park in January 2017 was one of the more remarkable results of the post-1992 era. Until Arsenal walloped the Citizens 5-1 last year it was the joint-heaviest defeat of Pep Guardiola’s managerial career and it stands as an island of joy in a sea of Evertonian misery when it comes to fixtures against the all-conquering Manchester club.

Since Nikica Jelavić “just fookin’ hit it” in March 2013 to seal a 2-0 victory over the then defending champions, Everton have played City 25 times in the Premier League and beaten them just once. At home, that exuberant romp overseen by Ronald Koeman represents the only points the Toffees have taken off them in 16 years. (Had Rodri been penalised four years ago for the most blatant handball aside from Matheus Fernandes's last weekend, we might have had one more.)

Indeed, apart from the four draws they have ground out at the Eithad Stadium in that time, games against City have been an exercise in utter futility for Everton since the end of David Moyes’s first spell as the Blues’ boss and he is 0 for 2 in his second so far.

A month ago, with Everton on a high after the 3-0 thumping of Chelsea at Hill Dickinson Stadium, there was a feeling that Moyes’s current charges could take on anyone in front of 50-odd thousand baying Blues. But now, with their form having fallen off a cliff since, Monday’s clash with a City side very much in full flow feels very ominous.

Everton’s European hopes may well depend on them pulling off a miracle on Monday night, though. Brentford’s emphatic win over West Ham pushed the Londoners four points away into sixth place and though Brighton lost at Newcastle, they have comparatively easier assignments to come against relegated Wolves and Leeds United before finishing their campaign at home against Manchester United.

Chelsea are back to being an unknown quantity now that Liam Rosenior has been canned and caretaker manager Calum McFarlane got them over the hump of an FA Cup semi-final against Leeds while Bournemouth are on a historic top-flight unbeaten run that has them sitting just outside the top six.

Keys to the Game

The key factor in the Blues’ chances on Monday could well be Beto. That statement would have bemused Evertonians a few months ago but the Portuguese-born striker has emerged in recent weeks as one of Moyes’s most important players.

Just as important as the five goals he has scored in his last seven outings have been his physical presence and nuisance-making at one of the pitch and his aerial prowess defending corners at the other. His absence was keenly felt after he was forced out of the Merseyside derby with a concussion and again at the London Stadium last weekend, particularly when Tomáš Souček out-jumped Thierno Barry to put the Hammers ahead early in the second half.

On both occasions, Barry struggled to match Beto’s impact, although were it not for Souček, the Frenchman would have notched his first goal since the end of February and revived his own fortunes at the club after a torrid few weeks.

Just as important as Beto doing everything he can to unsettle City’s back line will be Iliman Ndiaye. A mesmerising match-winner on his day, the Senegalese has been fairly subdued since returning to Merseyside with a minor foot injury during the last international break but if he can re-find his inspiration, he is one of the few Everton players alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jarrad Branthwaite and Jordan Pickford worthy of mention in the same breath as those as Guardiola’s disposal.

Branthwaite’s absence at the other end with a hamstring tear could be another big dimension to this match-up at Bramley-Moore Dock. With his pace and power, he would have been best placed to deal with Erling Haaland. As it stands, with Michael Keane and James Tarkowski the likely pairing, Moyes will have to adapt his tactics to ensure that Everton aren’t exposed to the explosive Norwegian’s pace in transition.

Unfortunately, Haaland isn’t close to being the only thing the Blues have to worry about. Rayan Cherki is in sparking form, a clear standout in the Premier League in recent weeks; Bernardo Silva looks determined to finish his City career on a high; Antoine Semenyo offers speed, power and goal threat; Jeremy Doku provides trickery on the other side; and Marc Guehi an threat in the air from set-pieces.

All of that would be bad enough if City weren’t in that part of the season where they’re typically in a groove, either rampaging to a title triumph or chasing down the team ahead of them. Guardiola’s men have lost just once in the Premier League since 22nd November, have already won the Carabao Cup and are into yet another FA Cup Final.

As is always the case, however, it comes down to 11 vs 11 on the pitch and anything can happen, particularly in front of what is expected to be a fevered Bank Holiday Monday crowd. They won’t have much of the ball but if Everton can find the inspiration on the day, capitalise on City’s high line, benefit from some rub of the green and, perhaps, a positive impact off the bench from someone like Tyrique George — expect Moyes to go with his tried and trusted, which includes Dwight McNeil, from the start — then anything is possible.

Head to Head since 1992^*

Everton wins: 11
Manchester City wins: 13
Draws: 4

^*Premier League era at Goodison Park