2020-21 FA Cup: Quarter Finals – Everton vs Manchester City

Everton welcome Manchester City to Goodison Park in Saturday’s blockbuster Quarter Final of 2020-21 FA Cup. 

Victory would see Everton qualify for the semi-finals for the first time since 2015-16 season, whereas Man City look to book a spot in the last four for the fourth time in five seasons.

 

Team News

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Jordan Pickford is ruled out for Everton after suffering an abdominal muscle injury in last weekend’s home defeat to Burnley.

Robin Olsen (knock), James Rodriguez (calf), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (Achilles), Fabian Delph (muscle) and Abdoulaye Doucoure (foot) remain absent.

Man City have no fresh injury concerns to report with a full squad available for selection.

 

Stat Attack

• Everton have won just one of their six FA Cup meetings across three ties against Manchester City (W1, D3, L2), with two of those ties going to replays.
• Man City have won just one of six previous FA Cup trips to Goodison Park against Everton (W1, D2, L3).
• Two of Everton’s three home ties in FA Cup this season have gone to extra-time.
• Gabriel Jesus, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva are City’s joint-top goalscorers in FA Cup this season with two goals apiece.
• Michael Oliver is refereeing a cup game involving Everton and Man City this season for the first time, although the Toffees drew their only home game and City won both away games under his whistle in Premier League.

 

Prediction

Everton come into this game looking to improve off the back of a sloppy league performance against Burnley last weekend, because they often lacked end product but careless play in midfield and defence ultimately were their undoing.

Man City meanwhile delivered two routine victories in the past week without much threat, which is a slight worry in that they haven’t been properly tested in those games nor their FA Cup run so far this season except at Cheltenham in Fourth Round.

This game therefore is either going to be competitive given that this competition is Everton’s only shot at a trophy this season and they have already knocked out Tottenham, or a dud if City turn up and dominate like in recent meetings at Goodison Park.

Everton though are set for a difficult game with Joao Virginia in goal because given his inexperience at this level, I can see just one outcome despite City’s poor FA Cup record at this ground unless the Toffees deliver a shock quality display.

Prediction: Everton 1-3 Manchester City

Result: Everton 0-2 Manchester City