Despite facing early adversity against Brentford, with Neal Maupay’s goal putting them behind, Manchester City orchestrated a comeback. Phil Foden’s equalizer before halftime shifted momentum, and he secured a hat-trιϲk in the 70th minute, guiding City to a 3-1 victory. The win has propelled City within two points of league leaders Liverpool, with a game in hand. Guardiola’s team is on a nine-match winning streak, dominating opponents with a 27-6 aggregate score. City’s upcoming home fixtures, where they have excelled, including an impressive record against teams in the relegation zone, bolster their pursuit of a fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Following a promising run in December, Everton has encountered a downturn, failing to secure a victory in their last six Premier League matches. Despite resilient performances, including a late equalizer against Spurs, they find themselves in the bottom three. Sean Dyche praises his team’s character amid challenges on and off the pitch, hoping the recent draw can kιϲk-start their season. Everton faces a tough schedule against top-eight teams in their next six fixtures. Additionally, they enter the daunting clasҺ against Manchester City with a winless ꜱtгeak at the Etihad spanning 12 visits, and their last Premier League win against Man City was in January 2017.
Manchester City enters the upcoming weekend with a fully fit squad, including the recently recovered Erling Haaland and Manuel Akanji. With defensive concerns due to a lack of clean sheets in their last 12 league matches, Pep Guardiola might consider adjustments, with Akanji, John Stones, and Rico Lewis vying for a place in the starting XI. Changes in the midfield, potentially involving Mateo Kovacic or Matheus Nunes alongside Rodri, could be contemplated. Upfront, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, and Oscar Bobb face competition from Foden, De Bruyne, Alvarez, and Bernardo Silva, who supported Haaland against Brentford.
On the Everton side, Arnaut Danjuma, Andre Gomes, Dele Alli, and Abdoulaye Doucoure are sidelined due to injuries. Amadou Onana may return from a knee ιnjᴜry, and Ben Godfrey is expected to overcome cramp issues. The right-back position is contested between Godfrey, Seamus Coleman, and Nathan Patterson, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin is likely to lead the line with support from Harrison and Dwight McNeil on the flanks.
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
Manchester City 3-1 Everton
In a match with consequences at both ends of the table, Guardiola and Dyche should have few problems motivating their respective teams in their quest to claim maximum points, but there is no hiding the fact that Man City head into Saturday’s contest as firm favorites.
Although the Citizens have been far from watertight defensively, they have been scoring goals for fun and considering that Haaland is back in the mix, the hosts boast the firepower required to outscore their opponents.