Toffees to prove tough nut to crack again for wounded City
THERE’S no doubt that Champions League holders Bayern Munich are a team right out of the top drawer but, even so, the way they brushed aside Manchester City on Wednesday night at the Etihad was phenomenal.
Pep Guardiola’s side absolutely battered the ragged hosts and a 3-1 scoreline understates their superiority. While it’s been David Moyes on the other side of Manchester copping a lot of stick for United’s poor start to the campaign, it’s Manuel Pellegrini who must be nervously looking over his shoulder.
Roberto Mancini found out the hard way that Sheikh Mansour doesn’t tolerate failure lightly and City’s third defeat in nine games isn’t the start the owners would have been looking for.
A home game against Everton tomorrow lunchtime gives them the perfect opportunity to bounce back but the Toffees boast an exceptional record over City in recent years and arrive at the Etihad Stadium as the only unbeaten team in the Premier League.
Stats are there to be broken and I’m not one to follow them blindly. However, it’s striking that Everton have triumphed in nine of the last 12 meetings between the sides and have won four of the last six away, losing just one.
Roberto Martinez’s men have proved time and time again they’re a real bogey team for City and the emergence of Ross Barkley in midfield, and the inspired loan signing of in-form hitman Romelu Lukaku, means I can see them causing all sorts of problems for a team smarting after their European embarrassment.
The 23/20 with Coral for the Everton double chance – draw or away win – looks exceptional value when you consider the confidence with which they are playing at the moment and you would struggle to find a better-priced outsider this weekend than the 9/2 for an away win.
While it’s a big surprise to see Everton as the only unbeaten club in the division, it’s arguably even more of a shock to see Arsenal two points clear of the chasing pack at the summit after winning their last five.
It’s not an over-exaggeration to claim they are the most in-form team in Europe after taking their winning run to 10 in all competitions with a superb 2-0 win over Napoli on Tuesday.
They delivered for us as 9/2 shots against Swansea last week in the half-time/full-time result market but I’m happy to just back them outright this week at a very fair 4/5 with Coral at West Brom.
The Baggies beat Man United last weekend but it will take a brilliant performance to stop the devastating Gunners’ trio of Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud. Take them to extend their winning spree.
■ Pointers…
Everton double chance at 23/20 with Coral
Arsenal to beat West Brom at 4/5 with Coral