Last week, Pep Guardiola's squad secured the global championship with a convincing 4-0 victory over Fluminense. Meanwhile, their opponents, Everton, are looking to bounce back after consecutive defeats in cup and league competitions.
Everton had a chance to make history at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, aiming for a fifth consecutive away win in the Premier League and a fifth consecutive victory with maximum points overall. Unfortunately, Richarlison put Tottenham ahead early in the game, and Son Heung-min doubled Spurs' lead within the first 20 minutes. Despite Everton's relentless attacks, they only found success with a fine Andre Gomes finish in the 82nd minute.
Former Tottenham loanee Arnaut Danjuma came close to salvaging a point in the final moments, but Tottenham emerged victorious. Everton's disappointment was further compounded by their EFL Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of Fulham.
While Everton can take pride in their efforts in North London, wins for Luton Town and Burnley over the weekend mean that the 16th-placed Toffees, who might drop to 17th by Wednesday, have only a four-point cushion above the relegation zone.
Despite stumbling in their first four home games of the season, Everton has turned things around with back-to-back wins against Chelsea and Newcastle United in their last two Goodison Park Premier League matches, scoring five goals and conceding none.
Manchester City, on the other hand, spent only three hours in the Middle East to conquer the planet, securing a Club World Cup title with victories over Urawa Red Diamonds and Fluminense. The global triumph marked a significant achievement for Guardiola's team.
Returning to Premier League action with renewed energy, Manchester City aims to bounce back from a disappointing 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, where they squandered a two-goal lead. Despite spending Christmas Day outside the Champions League spots in fifth place, they are only two points behind Tottenham Hotspur, who have played an extra match.
City's history of a strong second-half-of-the-season surge could come into play, especially since they have scored at least twice in their last five games. Facing Everton, a team they have defeated in 11 of their last 12 meetings across all competitions, including a convincing 3-0 victory in May, City is poised for another challenging but promising encounter.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
During Everton's recent clash with Tottenham, manager Sean Dyche had to make an unexpected adjustment to the midfield when Idrissa Gueye suffered an unspecified issue just 24 minutes into the game.Dyche acknowledged that Gueye's situation didn't look promising, and if he's unavailable, Andre Gomes, who recently returned from a calf problem, could step in for his first start of the season. However, Abdoulaye Doucoure's participation is still uncertain due to a thigh concern.
The defensive lineup is also a concern for Dyche, with full-backs Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young dealing with knocks. Meanwhile, Dele Alli is nearing his comeback from hip surgery but is likely to be on the bench at best for the upcoming match.
On the Manchester City side, midfielder Rodri faced a harsh challenge from Fluminense's Alexsander during the Club World Cup final, leaving him in distress on the field. Despite trying to continue, Rodri eventually had to be substituted.
He downplayed the severity of his apparent knee issue after the game, expressing confidence in starting at Goodison Park. Additionally, three teammates, namely Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring), Jeremy Doku (muscle), and Erling Haaland (foot), traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup. Although they were not allowed to play in the final due to tournament regulations, they could make their anticipated returns.
De Bruyne, who spent four months recovering from a thigh problem, resumed training during the Middle East stint. However, even if he makes an early comeback, he won't be rushed back into the starting lineup too soon.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Everton possible starting lineup:Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Onana, Garner, Gomes, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Akanji, Rodri; Silva, Alvarez, Foden; Haaland
EXPERT PREDICTION
Everton 0-1 Manchester City
The real challenge lies in whether the hosts can break through a rejuvenated City defense. While the champions may not deliver another standout Premier League performance, a single goal should be sufficient for Guardiola's formidable team to make a triumphant return.
