Everton vs Manchester City preview: Akanji and Foden could return for trip to Goodison

By Ric Turner, Fri 18 April 2025 13:51


Everton vs Manchester City preview: Akanji and Foden could return for trip to GoodisonEderson ruled out after muscle injury sustained against Palace

Everton vs Manchester City

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 3.00pm, Saturday 19th April 2025

Venue: Goodison Park, Liverpool

Referee: Simon Hooper Assistants: A Holmes, S Long Fourth Official: R Madley VAR: D England

Odds: Everton 14/5, Draw 5/2, City 10/11

Tickets: Sold out

TV: Match of the Day

Everton

Manager: David Moyes

Squad (from): Pickford, Virginia, Begovic, Patterson, Keane, Tarkowski, O'Brien, Young, Mykolenko, Coleman, Branthwaite, Doucoure, Alcaraz, Gueye, Garner, McNeil, Ndiaye, Harrison, Beto, Chermiti, Broja

Injured: Mangala, Lindstrom, Calvert-Lewin

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Form guide: WDLDD

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Ortega, Carson, Dias, Reis, Gvardiol, Akanji, Khusanov, Lewis, Kovacic, Grealish, Gonzalez, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Nunes, Foden, Bobb, McAtee, Marmoush, Doku, Savinho

Injured: Rodri, Haaland, Ake, Stones, Ederson

Doubtful: Foden, Akanji

Suspended: None

Form guide: WDWWD

Manuel Akanji and Phil Foden returned to training this week and could be in contention for thr trip to Goodison Park. Ederson, however, has been ruled out after sustaining a muscle injury during the 5-2 home victory against Crystal Palace. Rodri, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Erling Haaland all remain sidelined.

The Blues face a difficult battle in order to qualify for next season's Champions League, but manager Pep Guardiola is relishing the challenge ahead.

“It’s a motivation. It’s not a bad thing to fight to qualify for the Champions League,” Guardiola said at Friday's press conference.

“We could be in a very lower position in the Premier League if you have done few good things in the last four or five months,” he added.

“People say we are fourth now but could be 11, 12, 13 or 14. I have no doubts.

“Okay we’ve not been good, but it’s in our hands.

“Goodison Park and Villa is massively important because it’s just six games, we don’t have much time. 

“I know the qualification path at the Etihad and we know the games we have here and two away. First opportunity tomorrow in Liverpool.”

City won their last trip to Goodison Park 3-1, with goals from Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez and Bernardo Silva. Overall City have won 81 of the 198 games played against the Toffees, with 49 draw and 68 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Ortega, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Gonzalez, Kovacic, Gundogan, De Bruyne, McAtee, Marmoush

Score prediction: Everton 1 City 1