Zabaleta facing a month on the sidelines with knee injury
Everton vs Manchester City
Date: 16.00pm, Sunday 23rd August 2015
Venue: Goodison Park, Liverpool
Referee: Anthony Taylor Assistants: G Beswick, H Lennard Fourth Official: K Friend
Odds: Everton 4/1, Draw 3/1, Manchester City 3/4
Tickets: Sold out
TV: Sky Sports 1
Everton
Manager: Roberto Martinez
Squad (from): Robles, Howard, Stanek, Stones, Jagielka, Coleman, Browning, Galloway, Oviedo, Cleverley, McCarthy, Barry, Barkley, Deulofeu, Besic, Osman, Kone, Lukaku, Mirallas, Naismith, McAleny
Injured: Baines, Gibson, McGeady, Pienaar, Hibbert
Doubtful: Mirallas
Suspended: None
Form guide: DW
Manchester City
Manager: Manuel Pellegrini
Squad (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Clichy, Demichelis, Denayer, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Otamendi, Sagna, Delph, Fernandinho, Lopes, Nasri, Navas, Silva, Toure, Aguero, Bony, Iheanacho
Injured: Fernando, Zabaleta
Doubtful: Delph
Suspended: None
Form guide: WW
Pablo Zabaleta faces a month on the sidelines, after Manuel Pellegrini revealed that the Argentinian defender had suffered knee ligament damage.
"It happened in training," confirmed Zabaleta. "It's the first time in 12 years of senior football that I've ever been injured like this so it's a blow, especially at the start of the season."
Fabian Delph and Fernando have, however, recovered from injury and join new boy Nicolas Otamendi in the squad. Eliaquim Mangala and Vincent Kompany, so impressive in City's opening two games, continue their partnership at the heart a City defence yet to concede a goal this season.
City's last away game at Goodison ended in a 1-1 draw, with Fernandinho opening the scoring for City before Gary Naismith equalised for the home side. Overall City have won 66 of the 176 games played against Chelsea, with 44 draws and 66 defeats.
Prediction: Everton 1 City 2