Manchester City can keep up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal on Monday (20:00 BST) when they visit Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Just one point from their past three games – including two last-gasp defeats in their past two – has halted Everton's push for European football. However, they go into this fixture five points behind sixth-placed Bournemouth with a game in hand, meaning all is not lost.
Manchester City represent a fearsome opponent, though, especially with the scent of the title in their nostrils. Pep Guardiola and his side have had a full week to prepare for this fixture after their dramatic win over Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final last Saturday.
Everton running out of steam?
Toffees manager David Moyes has relied on a core group of players this season, and it has served him well – at least until a couple of weeks ago.
Defeats by Liverpool and West Ham United came courtesy of injury-time goals from the opposition. It was the first time Everton have conceded a winning goal in the 90th minute or later in back-to-back league games.
While the Toffees have frequently scored late themselves this season, it is perhaps no surprise that the wear and tear of the campaign is beginning to show. Everton have made the fewest substitutions, used the fewest players, and only Nottingham Forest have made fewer changes to their starting XI over the course of the season.
In Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, the Blues at least have a player in form in the final third. The midfielder netted his eighth goal of the season at West Ham and is proving himself to be a lethal finisher; only Antoine Semenyo (+4.5) and Harry Wilson (+4.3) are outperforming their xG by a greater margin than the former Chelsea and Leicester City man (+4.2).
City look to continue dominance over Everton
As much as this fixture has the feel of a potentially awkward one for City, visits to the blue half of Merseyside have been fruitful for them for many years.
Everton have not beaten City in the league since their 4-0 win at Goodison Park in 2016 – a run spanning 17 games. City have also won their past eight visits to Everton, which represents the Toffees' longest run of consecutive home defeats against one opponent in their history.
Moyes has also found Guardiola a difficult foe. The Scot has yet to record a win in 15 previous meetings between the two managers; only Sean Dyche against Guardiola and Steve Bruce against Sir Alex Ferguson have faced an opponent more times – 17 occasions – without winning in the competition.
City have been far from their best in the recent wins over Burnley and Southampton, but they will be confident of exploiting an Everton defence that has been ropey as of late.
The Toffees have struggled in the full-back positions all season and in Jeremy Doku, City have the perfect player to capitalise on any frailties. The Belgium international has made 82 carries into the opponent's penalty area, which is nine more than any other player.
