Manchester City cannot afford to take their foot off the pedal when they travel to Goodison Park this weekend.
With the race for Champions League qualification heating up and both Chelsea and Aston Villa pushing hard for a top-five finish, Pep Guardiola’s side need to remain sharp and decisive if they are to keep control of their own destiny.
The Citizens were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Everton in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium, and their away form in recent weeks has offered little reassurance.
Since a six-goal demolition of Ipswich Town in January, City have scored just twice in their last four Premier League games on the road, and they failed to find the net in their most recent two – a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest and a goalless draw at Old Trafford.
Everton, meanwhile, are showing the kind of steel and discipline that has been missing for much of their recent Premier League campaigns.
Under David Moyes, the Toffees have picked up 21 points in 13 matches – a return bettered by only four other sides in that time – and their dramatic late win away to Forest last weekend moved them 17 points clear of danger.
This fixture offers the hosts a chance to mathematically confirm their top-flight status with five games to spare.
Guardiola knows full well the size of the task at hand. Speaking ahead of the game, he described Goodison Park as “so special,” adding, “We don’t have much time. Goodison Park and Villa is massively important.”
That sense of urgency reflects City’s current standing – top five but far from safe, especially with injuries to key players like Ederson and Erling Haaland, and uncertainty over the availability of Phil Foden and Manuel Akanji.
Although City have won on each of their last eight visits to Goodison Park, history will count for little if they cannot match the intensity Everton are likely to bring. Moyes’s side are unbeaten in six home games and will see this as a free hit to test themselves against elite opposition with little pressure.
Guardiola insists it is no disgrace to be battling for Champions League qualification. But he also knows City are in this position because they have not been clinical enough. That needs to change – and fast.
If they are to close out the season strongly, it has to start with a ruthless, businesslike performance on Merseyside.
