Everton host Manchester City on Monday night and are hoping to pull of a big shock – and one player could be crucial for the Toffees.
David Moyes’ side have stumbled in the Premier League in recent weeks, and really there can’t be any more slip-ups going forward if European football is to be secured.
Let us know your predictions ahead of Monday’s huge match on Merseyside! 😬
Recent history does not bode well for Everton… 🫣
But the Toffees now have one of their toughest games of the season with City coming to Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time.
Pep Guardiola’s side are looking to catch Arsenal at the top, and will be determined to win.
Many eyes will be on this game and there is probably a lot of people who are looking forward to seeing Rayan Cherki play given his scintillating form at the moment.
But Everton have their very own version who might just relish going up against the Frenchman.
Iliman Ndiaye is Everton’s Rayan Cherki
Monday night’s game will actually see two of the best dribblers in the Premier League face off.
There aren’t many others in the division who quite have the same level of flair as Iliman Ndiaye and Rayan Cherki, with the pair regularly lifting fans out of their chairs.
Ndiaye has had another really good season for Everton and is so often the biggest source of creativity for the Toffees.
| Iliman Ndiaye for Everton in 25/26 so far |
| Appearances – 30 |
| Minutes played – 2473 |
| Goals – 6 |
| Assists – 3 |
Quite how he only has three assists this term is anyone’s guess, because he is a constant threat regardless of where he’s playing.
This will be a very difficult game for Everton, and it could well be that a moment of magic is what it takes to find a breakthrough – and Ndiaye is obviously the most likely player to provide that.
Hopefully he’ll be bang up for this one – and be wanting to relish the prospect of outshining his equivalent for Man City, Cherki.
While Cherki has had more goal involvements, the Senegal international is beating Cherki in a number of other metrics this season, such as take-ons, take-on success percentage, shot accuracy percentage, duels contested and ball recoveries (via Squawka).
Ndiaye the only current player to score for Everton against Man City
Just scoring a goal against City will be tough enough – but Ndiaye is perhaps the most likely to do this.
Of all the players in the squad right now, he is actually the only one who can lay claim to scoring a goal against City.
How would you have the side lined up if you were David Moyes? 🤩
Let's hope Beto is ready to go on Monday! 🤕
This strike came last season in the 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium.
Abdoulaye Doucoure crossed a ball to Ndiaye at the back post, and the winger controlled it with his instep, before rapidly poking the ball into the top corner with the outside of his foot.
It was a marvellous technical finish, and a show of serious quality that Everton will be hoping to see again on Monday.
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