MADRID, 24 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Manchester City visits Everton this Saturday (6:30 p.m.) in a duel corresponding to matchday 27 of the Premier League, and to which Guardiola’s men arrive injured after losing and ending their great dynamic of 15 consecutive undefeated games, so they will seek the three points to give no more hope to a Liverpool that does not play this weekend for the League Cup final, but is already stalking the leader.
The ‘citizens’ are leaders of the Premier with 63 points, only three above Liverpool, their top pursuer after causing fear last Thursday by beating Leeds 6-0 in their game postponed from day 20. The ‘reds ‘ confirmed their bid for the title and reaffirmed that much is still at stake in the English championship.
For this reason, City cannot afford another slowdown in its journey towards the trophy, but Liverpool’s encouragement is getting closer. This could be a factor that increases the pressure on Guardiola’s team, which is the first time they have seen each other in this situation after leading the second by more than 10 points.
On the last day they fell at home against Tottenham (2-3) with a goal from Harry Kane in added time, a blow for City who now feel that their leadership could be in danger. This was the first defeat in the last 16 league games, so they will try to get a win at Goodison Park to increase the distance over the ‘reds’ to six points and recover the positive feelings.
Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesús is out due to injury, while Grealish and Steffen are doubtful to face an Everton that comes 16th in the table (22 points) and with the absences of Davies, Delph, Godfrey and Mina. For the ‘toffees’, with only two wins in the last 10 games, this is a key game in their fight to get away from relegation, now just two points behind.
Another of the great attractions of the day, also on Saturday, will be Manchester United-Watford, a duel between teams with very different objectives. Those of Rangnick come from giving a very poor image in the Metropolitano in the draw (1-1) against Atlético de Madrid in the Champions League. A performance that they hope will not affect the team in their next match in the Premier, where they are in the midst of fighting to consolidate themselves in the Champions League positions.
The ‘Red Devils’ are fourth with 46 points and a win would put them just one point behind Chelsea. Despite not displaying a showy game and depending too much on the individual quality of their stars, United have managed to link positive results in recent weeks, with only two defeats in the league in the last 15 games.
Edinson Cavani, who played in Madrid, is still out due to injury, while Watford arrives at Old Trafford with the absence of N’Koulou and the doubts of Etebo and Kucka. The ‘Hornets’ are penultimate after losing to Crystal Palace (1-4) and have only won two away wins in the last ten games, although only four points prevent them from getting out of relegation.
Also on Saturday, Tottenham, bolstered by their victory at the Etihad, visit a very shaken Leeds. Those of Conte, however, come from falling resoundingly against Burnley (1-0) in what was the third defeat in the last four league games. A complicated situation that leaves those from London eighth in the table and immersed in a sea of doubts and uncertainty.
For its part, Chelsea, who will be Liverpool’s rival on Sunday in the League Cup final, will not play this weekend either, so their match against Leicester has been postponed. Day 27 will open on Friday with Southampton-Norwich, a match in which the bottom team will try to achieve a victory that will allow them to forget their crisis and look at salvation as a real objective, while the Saints consolidate themselves in the quiet zone of the table.
–SCHEDULES OF THE DAY 27.
-Friday, February 25.
Southampton – Norwich 21.00.
-Saturday 26.
Leeds United – Tottenham 13.30.
Brentford – Newcastle 16.00.
Brigthon – Aston Villa 16.00.
Crystal Palace – Burnley 16.00.
Manchester United – Watford 16.00.
Everton – Manchester City 18.30.
-Sunday 27.
Chelsea – Leicester Postponed.
West Ham – Wolverhampton 15.00.