English Premier

2025-10-18 - Manchester City vs Everton

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Manchester City v Everton
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 18th October 2025 - Kick Off 3pm

Manchester City

Results are arguably more important than performances early in the season and that feels like the case for Manchester City as they look for a much better campaign than the last one. Pep Guardiola will expect performances to improve as the rhythm is built up and injuries clear up, but making up points lost is more difficult and so Manchester City will be pleased with the month of action between the September and October international breaks.

They have not only quietly moved up into 5th place in the Premier League table, but Manchester City are only 3 points behind leaders Arsenal having already visited the Emirates Stadium. No one can really argue that Manchester City have yet to hit top form, but they have a chance to come out of the latest international break and build momentum in this home fixture.

Manchester City entered the September international break after suffering consecutive Premier League defeats, but they are unbeaten in all 7 games played in all competitions since then. The side will be chasing a fourth straight win at the Etihad Stadium having beaten Manchester United, Napoli and Burnley while scoring 10 goals.

Rayan Ait-Nouri, Abdukodir Khusanov and Omar Marmoush could be available for selection this weekend. Rodri is set to miss the next couple of fixtures, but could return before the end of the month, while Erling Haaland's incredible form has continued for Norway and he is well rested.

Everton

When you watch Everton play, David Moyes has not always looked best pleased with what he is seeing, although the results have been largely positive through the first couple of months of the season. The manager may have hoped his team were facing another game soon after the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace to build on the momentum, but this is a tough test for Everton out of the October international break.

They are 8th in the Premier League table after the first couple of months of the season and Everton have secured 11 points. The manager has made it clear that the Club should always be targeting European Football and that is the ambition over the coming months. The Toffees have a 1-0-2 away record in the early stages of the season and that will need to be improved if they are pushing for a top seven finish.

Everton had not won any of 4 games in all competitions and had suffered defeat in half of those fixtures, while they were completely second best and trailing Crystal Palace 0-1 two weeks ago. Two late goals turned that around, but this is an away fixture and Everton have lost 3 of the opening 4 games played on their travels in all competitions.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is back from a suspension, but Jack Grealish misses out against his parent club. Jarrad Branthwaite, Michael Keane and Merlin Rohl are all hoping to be passed fit for selection.

Head to Head

Manchester City took four points from Everton in the Premier League last season, but the fixture at the Etihad Stadium ended 1-1 on Boxing Day.

Everton have not won in 15 visits to this ground, but 6 of those have ended in draws, including in 2 of the last 3 seasons.

Prediction

They will return from the October international break as the shortest priced favourite in the Premier League this weekend and Manchester City will be expected to make that count in their bid for three more points.

This is a team that has struggled to maintain intensity for a full ninety minutes, although those failures have really been highlighted in away fixtures played.

Fortunately for Pep Guardiola and his players, this is a game taking place at the Etihad Stadium and Manchester City are expected to have too much firepower for Everton.

They have won 3 games in a row at home and Manchester City have scored ten goals in those victories, while Erling Haaland is arguably the most in-form striker in Europe. He has made the difference for Manchester City even when the team have not been at their very best and Haaland should be able to lead the line very effectively against an Everton team that may have a few players carrying knocks in defensive areas.

In saying all that, this is not the 'banker' the odds may suggest.

Everton have found a way to earn a point in 2 of the last 3 visits to the Etihad Stadium and they have pace on the counter attack that will offer a real threat in the transition. The home team will be without main defensive midfielder, Rodri, and that offers Everton an opportunity, although they are going to be without Jack Grealish.

David Moyes will likely set his team up to be hard to beat and try and frustrate the home players and crowd, but Everton have struggled with the balance needed between attack and defence.

The overall defensive numbers are not so encouraging either and it may be tough to contain a Manchester City team who have a full complement of players available outside of Rodri. The attacking options are particularly impressive and Erling Haaland does not look like missing at the moment, which ultimately may give the home team the edge.

If they are going to win, Manchester City will likely be able to cover this Asian Handicap line.

6 of the last 15 hosted by Manchester City have ended in draws, but 7 have ended in a home win by two or more goals and it feels like the latter is most likely in this one. Everything will depend on the intensity that Manchester City come out with following the international break, but a positive start could see the home team have a bit too much for Everton this weekend.