On Monday night, Everton face one of their toughest challenges yet as they welcome the Manchester City juggernaut to Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Toffees are desperate for a positive result to reignite their European ambitions, but recent form has been a cause for concern.
Back-to-back stoppage-time defeats—first a heartbreaking Merseyside derby loss to Liverpool, followed by a late collapse at West Ham United—have left Everton stuck in 11th place. However, all is not lost. With just three points separating them from the top six, David Moyes knows his team must cut out the costly errors that have defined their recent outings.
On the other side, Manchester City arrive with a domestic treble firmly in their sights. After spending much of the season chasing Arsenal, Pep Guardiola's side have rediscovered their trademark momentum for the run-in. Fresh off last month's League Cup triumph, City booked a record-breaking fourth consecutive FA Cup Final appearance with a 2-1 win over Southampton at Wembley. By kick-off on Monday, they could be six points behind the Gunners—but with two games in hand, the title race is far from over.
History heavily favors the visitors. City boast an 18-game unbeaten run against Everton stretching back to 2017, winning 15 of those meetings. It's a daunting record for any side to overcome.
Everton, however, have reason for optimism. Forward Beto is set to return after missing the West Ham defeat due to a concussion sustained in the Merseyside derby. His comeback is timely, given he scored five goals in his previous six Premier League appearances. But there's bad news too: Jarrad Branthwaite's season-ending injury has robbed the Toffees of a key defensive cog. The 23-year-old will finish the 2025-26 campaign with just seven Premier League starts, leaving a significant gap at the back.
Michael Keane deputized against West Ham and is expected to continue, but a big decision looms at right-back. Jake O'Brien struggled against Crysencio Summerville last weekend, and the threat of Jeremy Doku's pace and trickery will give Moyes plenty to think about. Meanwhile, Jack Grealish is sidelined for the season—though he would have been ineligible against his parent club anyway.
Pep Guardiola rotated heavily for the FA Cup semi-final win over Southampton, meaning City should be fresh and firing. For Everton, this is a test of character, resilience, and whether they can finally turn their season around.