Manchester City's draw at Fulham kept Hughes' team floundering a few places above the relegation zone (14th).

Without Robinho, they looked short of ideas; Petrov, Bojinov and Elano are also out and they don't have the strength in depth to suggest they will even break into the top eight this season, even if they buy in the winter transfer window.

The Brazilian star should be returning to the line-up for the visit of Everton and that will make a marked difference.

They've won just the one game in seven, but that was a 3-0 win over Arsenal. At home, they've won three games 3-0 and won once 6-0.

Robinho finds goalscoring difficult away from Eastlands, but at home he's been fairly prolific.

With Everton showing worrying signs last Sunday that they were returning to their early season defensive form, Man City should be able to add to their tally of 30 league goals (the second best after Chelsea in the Premiership).

Everton went down 2-3 at home to Aston Villa last weekend. Earlier in the season, they shipped 19 goals in ten games. As those problems have been taped up, they've moved up the table and lie in 8th.

However, they gifted much of the game to Villa and the in-form Ashley Young took advantage; imagine what Robinho could do if given the same chances.

Further forward, there looks problems ahead for David Moyes' team. Yakubu is out for the rest of the season, Saha is not expected to recover from short-term injury before Saturday, Vaughan is out for a while too.

The Nigerian Anichebe is not much of a goal threat, so much will be expected from Arteta and Cahill in midfield, which may open the space for City.

Match Betting Previews 13-14 December 2008 >>> Premiership: Aston Villa v Bolton - Liverpool v Hull - Man City v Everton - Middlesbrough v Arsenal - Stoke v Fulham - Sunderland v WBA - Spurs v Man United - Wigan v Blackburn - Chelsea v West Ham - Portsmouth v Newcastle La Liga: Barcelona v Real Madrid - Sevilla v Villarreal - Recreativo v Osasuna Serie A: Juventus v Milan - Inter v Chievo - Genoa v Atalanta Ligue 1: Le Mans v Bordeaux - Lyon v Marseille Bundesliga: Stuttgart v Bayern - Hoffenheim v Schalke

It's arguable that Man City are better value for the Handicap (-1 goal) win, given that all their league wins this season have been by at least three goals.

With odds available at $4.00 for Man City to win with a -1 goal handicap, this is probably true.

However, a safer bet may just lie in the home win, available at $2.10 from Bet365. Everton will find it tough with their injury problems up front, but it's possible that the defensive lapses against Villa were temporary and they do look more secure four months into the season, so a big win for the home side can't be banked on.

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Bet: Man City to win Odds: $2.10 Stake: 5pts Bookies: Bet365

Match Betting Previews 13-14 December 2008 >>> Premiership: Aston Villa v Bolton - Liverpool v Hull - Man City v Everton - Middlesbrough v Arsenal - Stoke v Fulham - Sunderland v WBA - Spurs v Man United - Wigan v Blackburn - Chelsea v West Ham - Portsmouth v Newcastle La Liga: Barcelona v Real Madrid - Sevilla v Villarreal - Recreativo v Osasuna Serie A: Juventus v Milan - Inter v Chievo - Genoa v Atalanta Ligue 1: Le Mans v Bordeaux - Lyon v Marseille Bundesliga: Stuttgart v Bayern - Hoffenheim v Schalke