A look ahead at tomorrow's game at The Etihad
Manchester City vs Everton
Date: 12.45pm Saturday 5th October 2013
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Jonathan Moss. Assistants: J Brooks, L Betts. Fourth Official: M Atkinson.
Odds: Manchester City 4/6, Everton 9/2, Draw 3/1
Tickets: Sold out.
Manchester City
Manager: Manuel Pellegrini
Squad (from): Hart, Pantilimon, Wright, Boyata, Clichy, Kolarov, Kompany, Lescott, Nastasic, Richards, Zabaleta, Garcia, Fernandinho, Milner, Nasri, Navas, Silva, Toure, Aguero, Dzeko, Guidetti, Jovetic, Negredo, Nimely.
Injured: Demichelis, Rodwell
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Form guide: WLWDWL
Everton
Manager: Roberto Martinez
Squad (from): Howard, Robles, Springthorpe, Baines, Coleman, Distin, Duffy, Heitinga, Hibbert, Jagielka, Oviedo, Stones, Barkley, Gibson, McCarthy, Osman, Pienaar, Deulofeu, Gueye, Jelavic, Kone, Lukaku, Mirallas, Naismith, Vellios.
Injured: Alcaraz
Doubtful: Gibson, Mirallas, Pienaar
Suspended: None
Form guide: DDDWWW
City go into Saturday's game against Everton on the back of successive defeats against Aston Villa and Bayern Munich. The comprehensive midweek defeat against Munich, in particular, was a chastening experience and it remains to be seen how it will affect confidence in the squad. Martin Demichelis remains the only long term absentee, although Jack Rodwell once again misses out with a muscular problem.
David Silva is likely to be recalled after an impressive cameo appearance on Wednesday, whilst James Milner, Pablo Zabaleta, Aleksandar Kolarov and Joleon Lescott will also hope to be named in the starting line-up. Joe Hart has been the subject of much criticism in the press, and Manuel Pellegrini may be tempted to replace him with Costel Pantilimon in order to take him out of the firing line.
Everton have enjoyed an impressive start to the season, and remain the only undefeated team in the Premiership. The Toffees hvave adapted well to life after David Moyes, and are playing a more expansive game under Roberto Martinez. Successive wins against Chelsea, West Ham and Newcastle have seen them climb to fourth in the table, and the Merseysiders will be confident of causing an upset at The Etihad on Saturday. Gareth Barry, so impressive since joining on loan from City, is ineligible to face his parent club whilst Kevin Mirallas and Darron Gibson hope to shake off knocks.
City's last home league game against Everton ended in a 1-1 draw, with Carlos Tevez scoring City's goal from the penalty spot. Everton have dominated the fixture in recent years, with nine victories and only two defeats in the last 12 meetings. Overall City have won 63 of the 172 games played against Everton, with 43 draws and 66 defeats.
Prediction: City 2 Everton 2