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Manchester City, fresh from their FIFA Club World Cup win, is gearing up to face Everton in the Premier League at Goodison Park. Despite their recent global success, City has slipped behind Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa in the league standings since their return from Saudi Arabia.
Under Pep Guardiola, City clinched the Club World Cup title by defeating Urawa Red Diamonds 3-0 in the semis and securing a 4-0 victory against Fluminense in the final. Julián Álvarez and Phil Foden scored for City, marking Guardiola's fourth win in this tournament across his managerial stints with different clubs.
The Club World Cup offered a break from City's inconsistent league form, having won only one of their last six Premier League matches (D4 L1). Despite a narrow win against Luton Town, they've struggled against top-tier opponents like Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur, culminating in a recent loss to Aston Villa. This form slump is the team's worst since 2016.
Their draw against Crystal Palace, where Michael Olise's late penalty salvaged a point for Palace, was part of this challenging spell. Jack Grealish's three goals in as many league games have been a positive highlight for City amidst their struggles.
Erling Haaland's absence due to injury during this period has affected City's attacking prowess. His return, along with other sidelined players like Jérémy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne, remains uncertain, adding to Guardiola's concerns. Additionally, there are fitness worries about Rodri after an injury in the Fluminense game.
Tottenham's recent win pushed them ahead of City in the league standings. Everton, on the other hand, saw their four-game winning streak halted by Tottenham, leaving them still above the relegation zone despite a 10-point deduction.
Everton's lineup might see the return of key players like Abdoulaye Doucouré, Ashley Young, and Seamus Coleman, providing a potential boost. However, they face a dilemma upfront with Dominic Calvert-Lewin's goal drought, possibly prompting Dyche to consider other options like Beto, who scored against Newcastle earlier in the month.
Everton, under Dyche's recent guidance, appeared to improve, but their track record against Man City in the Premier League hasn't been promising. They've won only one of their last 20 games against City and haven't won in their last 12 encounters. City has also had a strong record in away games against Everton, winning their last six matches and showing better performance compared to their previous visits.
City dominated their last fixture against Everton, winning 3-0, with Dyche struggling against Guardiola, losing 12 out of 13 Premier League encounters. However, Dyche has a history of occasional success against reigning champions, winning four out of 15 games, including victories against big teams like Man City, Leicester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
Guardiola's team tends to pick up momentum in the new year but has been showing defensive vulnerabilities in recent matches, conceding in their last seven Premier League games. Everton, on the other hand, has shown strength at home, winning their last two games at Goodison Park and having a good record when Doucouré, if fit, has scored. He's been instrumental in Everton's victories at home this season.
In summary, while Everton has shown promise at home and Dyche has had sporadic success against reigning champions, Guardiola's side might face challenges due to their defensive issues, making the match an intriguing encounter.
At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Everton had the opportunity to make history by securing their fifth consecutive Premier League away win and maintaining a perfect record of five consecutive victories overall. However, their ambitions were dampened by an early goal from Richarlison and a subsequent one from Son Heung-min within the first 20 minutes, putting Tottenham in control.
Despite relentless attacks from Everton, they only found the net with an 82nd-minute goal from Andre Gomes. Former Tottenham loanee Arnaut Danjuma came close to equalizing in the final moments, but Tottenham emerged victorious, adding to Everton's disappointment following their EFL Cup quarter-final exit against Fulham.
While Everton can commend their efforts in North London, weekend wins for Luton Town and Burnley mean that the 16th-placed Toffees, who may drop to 17th, have only a four-point cushion above the relegation zone. On a positive note, Everton recently secured back-to-back wins at Goodison Park against Chelsea and Newcastle United, scoring five goals and conceding none in their last two home Premier League matches after falling short in their initial four home games of the season.
Certainly! Here's a paraphrased version of the blog passage:
In just three hours, Manchester City dominated the global stage in the Middle East, winning against Urawa Red Diamonds in the Club World Cup semi-final and then facing Copa Libertadores champions Fluminense in the final. Despite Fluminense's commendable play style, Manchester City convincingly won the match with goals from Julian Alvarez, Phil Foden, and a Nino own goal, securing their first-ever world club championship. Guardiola referred to this achievement as the 'closing of the circle.'
Returning to the Premier League after their Middle East triumph, Manchester City are revitalized. Their departure was preceded by a disappointing 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace, where they surrendered a two-goal lead, leaving their home crowd disappointed.
Their recent Premier League form has been less than stellar, with only one win in their last six matches. This placed them fifth in the league standings on Christmas Day, although Tottenham Hotspur is only two points ahead despite playing an extra game.
Despite the current situation, Manchester City's historically strong second-half performances in the season could turn things around at any moment. Notably, they have scored at least twice in their last five games. Their upcoming match against Everton looks promising, given City's dominant track record in their recent encounters, including a convincing 3-0 win in May.
