Everton vs Manchester City preview: John Stones misses out on Goodison return with concussion

By Ric Turner, Fri 30 March 2018 15:46


Everton vs Manchester City preview: John Stones misses out on Goodison return with concussionGuardiola has no new injury concerns as City prepare for five fixtures in 14 days

Everton v Manchester City

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 5.30pm, Saturday 31st March 2018

Venue: Goodison Park, Liverpool

Referee: Paul Tierney Assistants: E Smart, D Eaton Fourth Official: M Oliver

Odds: Everton 8/1, Draw 4/1, City 4/11

Tickets: Sold out

TV: BT Sport

Everton

Manager: Sam Allardyce

Squad (from): Pickford, Robles, Hewelt, Baines, Keane, Jagielka, Martina, Coleman, Funes Mori, Kenny, Davies, Schneiderlin, Klaassen, Bolasie, Rooney, Walcott, Tosun, Vlasic, Calvert-Lewin, Niasse

Injured: Holgate, Mangala, Sigurdsson, McCarthy, Stekelenburg

Doubtful: Gueye

Suspended: Williams

Form guide: LWLLWW

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Bravo, Ederson, Muric, Danilo, Kompany, Laporte, Otamendi, Walker, De Bruyne, Delph, Fernandinho, Foden, Gundogan, Sane, B Silva, D Silva, Sterling, Toure, Aguero, Jesus

Injured: Mendy, Stones

Doubtful: Aguero, Delph

Suspended: None

Form guide: LWWWLW

John Stones misses out on a return to Goodison after being ruled out with concussion suffered whilst on international duty. City have no other new injury concerns, and Sergio Aguero could be involved after Pep Guardiola confimed that the forward is "much, much better" following a knee injury sustained during training.

City lost 4-0 at Goodison Park last season, their heaviest defeat under Guardiola, and the City manager was under no illusions about the challenge facing his players:

“(Under Sam Allardyce), Everton have been good,” he said. “The results are better. Especially at home, the results are so strong.

“Everton at home last season was one of the best performances and we drew.

“I didn’t think we played that badly but when the result happens, you have to accept it. I think this season, the results have been much better.

“Goodison Park is always a tough ground.”

City's last away game at Goodison ended in a humiliating 4-0 defeat, with Romelu Lukaku, Kevin Mirallas, Tom Davies and Ademola Lookman netting for the Toffees. Overall City have won 68 of the 183 games played against Everton, with 47 draws and 68 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Stones, Delph, Gundogan, D Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling, Sane, Jesus

Score prediction: Everton 1 City 2