Manchester City vs Everton Match Preview (1 Viewer)

[MartinGee]

The current Premier League champs, Manchester City, have a shot at temporarily claiming the top spot on the table if they manage to beat Everton at the Etihad Stadium this Saturday lunchtime, edging out their title rivals Liverpool.

In their recent match against Brentford, Manchester City showed resilience by turning around a 1-0 deficit to secure a 3-1 victory. Phil Foden played a pivotal role, scoring a hat-trick and shifting the momentum in City's favor after they initially trailed due to Neal Maupay's goal for Brentford. This win is crucial for City as they strive to clinch their fourth consecutive Premier League title.

Under Pep Guardiola's leadership, Manchester City has been on a winning streak, winning their last nine matches across all competitions, with an impressive aggregate score of 27-6. They've also had a strong record against Everton, winning 11 and drawing two of their last 13 encounters in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Everton has been struggling to find form, failing to win any of their last six league fixtures. Despite a recent draw with Tottenham, they've slipped into the relegation zone. Manager Sean Dyche remains optimistic about his team's character, but Everton faces a tough schedule ahead, with matches against several top-eight teams.

Heading into Saturday's game, Everton faces a daunting task, having not won any of their last 12 visits to the Etihad Stadium. Their last Premier League victory against Manchester City dates back to January 2017.

INJURIES & SUSPENSION​

Manchester City enters the upcoming weekend with a fully fit squad, as Erling Haaland and Manuel Akanji have recovered from their injuries and are available for selection. With just one clean sheet in their last 12 league matches, manager Guardiola might consider tweaking the defense, with Akanji, John Stones, and Rico Lewis vying for spots in the starting lineup.

In midfield, Guardiola could opt to pair either Mateo Kovacic or Matheus Nunes with Rodri, while the likes of Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, and Oscar Bobb face a challenge in displacing the attacking support provided by Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, Julian Alvarez, and Bernardo Silva, who all played alongside Haaland in the recent match against Brentford.

On the Everton side, Arnaut Danjuma remains sidelined with an ankle injury, along with Andre Gomes and Dele Alli nursing calf and groin issues, respectively. However, the return of midfielders Amadou Onana and Abdoulaye Doucoure from knee and hamstring injuries, respectively, could provide a boost.

Despite experiencing cramps in the previous game, Ben Godfrey is expected to be available, contending for the right-back spot with Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is likely to lead the attacking line once more, supported by Harrison and Dwight McNeil on the flanks.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS​

Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodri; Bernardo, De Bruyne, Alvarez, Foden; Haaland

Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Garner, Gueye, Onana, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin

EXPERT PREDICTION​

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Manchester City 4-1 Everton

In a crucial match with implications for teams at both the top and bottom of the table, Guardiola and Dyche are likely to have no trouble getting their players fired up to secure a win. However, it's clear that Manchester City enters Saturday's game as the strong favorites.

Despite some defensive vulnerabilities, City has been prolific in front of goal, especially with Haaland returning to action. With their attacking firepower, the hosts have the capability to outscore their opponents and claim victory.