Everton welcome Manchester City to the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday, 4 May 2026, for a Premier League match carrying major importance for both clubs.
For Manchester City, the objective is clear. Pep Guardiola's side are second with 70 points from 33 matches, six points behind leaders Arsenal but with two games in hand. With the title race entering its final weeks, City cannot afford to lose ground.
Everton begin the night in 11th place with 47 points from 34 games. David Moyes' team still has an outside chance of European qualification, but consecutive league defeats have damaged that push. A positive result against City would revive some momentum and make Everton's first home league meeting with Guardiola's side at Hill Dickinson Stadium a memorable one.
The recent head-to-head record strongly favours Manchester City, but Everton's new home, City's defensive injury problems and the pressure of the title race give this Bank Holiday fixture added intrigue.
Everton vs Manchester City Head-to-Head Summary: Last 10 Matches
Manchester City have dominated this fixture in recent seasons. Across the 10 Premier League meetings immediately before tonight's match, City won eight and the other two ended in draws. Everton did not record a victory.
The last 10 league meetings were:
18 October 2025: Manchester City 2-0 Everton
19 April 2025: Everton 0-2 Manchester City
26 December 2024: Manchester City 1-1 Everton
10 February 2024: Manchester City 2-0 Everton
27 December 2023: Everton 1-3 Manchester City
14 May 2023: Everton 0-3 Manchester City
31 December 2022: Manchester City 1-1 Everton
26 February 2022: Everton 0-1 Manchester City
21 November 2021: Manchester City 3-0 Everton
17 February 2021: Everton 1-3 Manchester City
That gives Manchester City eight wins, Everton zero and two draws. City scored 21 goals across those matches while Everton managed four, producing 25 goals in total and an average of 2.5 per game. Those numbers underline the scale of Everton's challenge. Even when the Toffees have kept matches tight, City have repeatedly found a way to take points.
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Most Recent Meeting: Manchester City 2-0 Everton
The most recent meeting came at the Etihad Stadium on 18 October 2025, when Manchester City won 2-0.
Everton kept the game goalless through the first half, but Erling Haaland scored twice after the break to secure the points for City. The result extended Everton's winless sequence in this fixture and again showed how difficult it can be to contain City for the full 90 minutes.
Monday's match gives Everton another chance to end that run, this time in front of their supporters at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Current Premier League Form
Everton
Everton have made progress compared with the relegation battles of recent seasons, but their form has dipped at an unfortunate stage of the campaign. They enter the City match after back-to-back Premier League defeats, including a 2-1 loss away to West Ham United on 25 April. Their six-game league form heading into the fixture is W-L-W-D-L-L.
With 47 points from 34 matches, Everton remain close enough to the teams above them for European qualification to stay within reach. However, the recent defeats have left Moyes' side with little room for further mistakes.
Against City, Everton will need to maintain their concentration for the entire match. Guardiola's team are particularly dangerous when opponents begin to tire, and spaces appear between midfield and defence.
Manchester City
Manchester City arrive on Merseyside in much stronger form. Their six-game Premier League sequence is W-D-D-W-W-W, with three consecutive league victories immediately before this match. That run includes a 3-0 away win against Chelsea, a crucial 2-1 victory over Arsenal and a 1-0 success at Burnley. The Arsenal result was especially important because it brought City firmly back into the title race.
City have 70 points from 33 matches, six behind Arsenal with two games in hand before kickoff. Winning those games would bring Guardiola's side level on points, which makes the trip to Everton another must-win fixture in their title challenge.
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Everton Team News and Injuries
Everton have received an important attacking boost with Beto available again. The striker missed the defeat to West Ham after going through concussion protocol, but Moyes confirmed before the City match that Beto had completed the required process, returned to training and was available for selection.
His return gives Everton a physical focal point against a City defence missing important players. Beto's strength and aerial presence could be useful if Everton choose to play directly beyond City's press.
However, Everton remain without Jarrad Branthwaite. The centre-back suffered a hamstring injury and is expected to miss the rest of the season. His absence is significant against an attack led by Haaland. Jack Grealish is also unavailable for Everton because of a foot injury, removing another creative option from Moyes' squad.
Manchester City Team News and Injuries
Manchester City's biggest concerns are in defence and midfield. Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol are unavailable for the trip to Everton. Dias has been recovering from a muscle injury, while Gvardiol has been sidelined with a leg injury.
Rodri is also a fitness concern. Guardiola said before the match that the midfielder was making progress from a groin problem, but his availability for Everton remained uncertain.
Those absences could matter because Everton are likely to test City's defensive structure through direct attacks, crosses and set pieces. Even so, City retain considerable depth throughout the squad. Further forward, Haaland remains the main threat and will once again be the player Everton's defence must pay particularly close attention to.
Tactical Matchup and Style of Play
1. How Everton Could Approach the Match
Everton are unlikely to try to beat Manchester City by dominating possession. A more realistic approach is to stay compact, protect central areas and attack quickly when City lose the ball.
Set pieces could also be important. With City missing Dias and Gvardiol, corners and wide free kicks may offer Everton one of their clearest routes to goal.
Beto's return gives Everton the option of playing more directly. Instead of taking unnecessary risks close to their own penalty area, the Toffees can look for the striker early and compete for second balls in midfield.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium atmosphere could also play a role. This is City's first competitive visit to Everton's new ground, and a strong start from the home side could make the contest uncomfortable for the visitors.
2. How Manchester City Could Approach the Match
Manchester City are expected to control possession and force Everton into a deep defensive shape.
Guardiola's side will look to move the ball patiently before accelerating when spaces appear. Their wide players can stretch Everton's back line, while the midfield will look for opportunities to find Haaland in and around the penalty area.
Everton must track Haaland carefully because City do not need many clear opportunities for the Norwegian striker to influence a game. The bigger concern for City may come when possession is lost. With regular defensive starters unavailable, Guardiola will want his midfield to stop Everton's counterattacks before they develop.
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What the Head-to-Head Record Tells Us
The last 10 meetings strongly favour Manchester City, but the two draws show that Everton have occasionally found ways to frustrate them. Both draws came at the Etihad Stadium, with Everton earning 1-1 results in December 2022 and December 2024. Those performances were built on defensive discipline and making the most of limited attacking opportunities.
At home, Everton's recent record against City has been worse. Manchester City repeatedly won at Goodison Park before Everton moved to Hill Dickinson Stadium, so the Toffees now have an opportunity to begin a different chapter in the fixture at their new home.
Everton vs Manchester City Match Expectations
Manchester City enter the match as favourites because of their stronger recent form, squad depth and dominant head-to-head record. The title situation also gives Guardiola's side enormous motivation. With Arsenal setting the pace, City know victory keeps the pressure on the leaders, while dropped points could leave them depending on Arsenal to slip up.
Everton should not be dismissed. Moyes' side can make matches physical and uncomfortable, and Beto's return gives them an attacking outlet against a City defence that is not at full strength.
For Everton to take something from the game, they will likely need to defend with discipline, compete strongly at set pieces and take their chances on the counterattack. City, meanwhile, will expect to have more possession and create the larger share of opportunities.
The recent history points clearly toward Manchester City, but the circumstances make this fixture more complicated than the numbers alone suggest. Everton still have European ambitions, City are fighting for the Premier League title, and Hill Dickinson Stadium is preparing for one of its biggest league nights so far.
A narrow Manchester City victory appears the most likely outcome, but if Everton can remain organised and exploit City's defensive absences, the Toffees have a genuine chance of making this a difficult Bank Holiday night for the title challengers.