Haaland’s hot streak faces test in emboldened Everton | OneFootball

Manchester City host Everton as the Premier League returns to action with a Manchester versus Liverpool double header.

Manchester United’s trip to face Liverpool will provoke bigger headlines as a more historic fixture, however it is City and Everton that have been on better form in the last couple of weeks. The visitors from Merseyside will arrive at the Etihad emboldened, after ending Crystal Palace’s 19-game unbeaten run last time out.

However, David Moyes will not take any confidence from his record against Pep Guardiola. The Scotsman has overseen just one victory in 17 meetings with the Catalan – a win on penalties in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. Everton too, have a similarly dismal record against this weekend’s opposition in recent years. The Toffees have not won in their last 17 meetings with City, losing 14 of them.

Ineligible Grealish

Named the signing of the summer by many, Jack Grealish has so far seemed a shrewd addition to Moyes’ squad. After a four-year spell with varying levels of success at the Etihad, the Englishman has now landed on Merseyside as he hopes to resurrect his career. With four assists and a goal in the opening weeks of the season, almost matching his league output from the last two years with City, Grealish has certainly hit the ground running at his new club. However, owing to Premier League rules, the forward will be ineligible to face his parent club this Saturday, as his move to Everton remains just a loan deal for the time being. As such, the Premier League’s player of the month for August will be forced to watch from the stands.

Haaland’s hot streak

The recently named Premier League player of the month for September will not be restricted from entering the pitch. Erling Haaland has scored in each of his last ten matches for club and country, a streak that he will hope to extend this weekend. The Norwegian has already netted a staggering 21 times this season.

Reinforcements return

It is evident that City have had an over-reliance on Haaland for goals – albeit with the Norwegian happily obliging. Haaland alone accounts for 60% of the Blues’ league goals, with no other City player scoring more than once – Burnley’s Maxime Esteve is in fact City’s second top scorer this season after twice putting the ball in his own net at the Etihad. Guardiola will have attacking reinforcements return to availability this weekend. Rayan Cherki should be back on the pitch for the first time since August and Omar Marmoush could also be available. City’s defence could also be boosted by both Abdukodir Khusanov and Rayan Ait-Nouri, who are expected to be back in action soon.

City’s charge

After an uncharacteristically vulnerable start to the season – losing two of the first three – City have begun to turn things around. Between the September and October international breaks, the Blues won five out of seven matches in all competitions. Guardiola’s side would have maintained a perfect record in the period if not for late equalisers for both Arsenal and Monaco. It is this kind of form that could see City mounting a title challenge come the end of the season. Now just three points off the top, rivals will be watching closely to see whether City’s momentum continues to build after the break.

Everton’s European hopes

Everton have found form too, only losing to Merseyside rivals Liverpool since their opening day defeat. Already enjoying the feel-good factor of their new stadium, a genuine sense of optimism is tangible around the club for the first time in a long time. Fresh off the back of ending Crystal Palace’s 19-game unbeaten run, the Toffees sit eighth in the Premier League – a position that would land them just outside of European qualification. There is no reason for Everton not to harbour real ambitions of claiming a European spot, and Saturday could provide ample opportunity for a statement result.