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Your support makes all the difference.Everton face Manchester City on Sunday afternoon, with both teams looking to close gaps at the top of the table, Guardiola’s men have fallen off the pace somewhat, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham leapfrogging them with City seven points off the league leaders.
Everton come into the game looking to make up a huge nine point deficit on Manchester United, who face Liverpool later in the day.
It’s a big game for…
Pep Guardiola. A defeat here would open a can of worms for the Spaniard, not only would be lose ground in the title race, but might even fan the flames about his struggles in English football and might also allow Everton a foot in on the top four.
Weird stat…
Manchester City missed two penalties last time out against Everton, with Phil Jagielka and Maarten Stekelenburg conceding and saving them both, respectfully.
Remember when…
As mentioned above, the Dutch keeper somehow managed to absolve Phil Jagielka of giving away two penalties, by saving them both from De Bruyne and Aguero, helping Everton to claim a 1-1 draw.
Player to watch…
Raheem Sterling. Hugely troubling for the Everton backline in the reverse fixture, he has been involved in nine goals for the club, scoring five and assisting four.
Past three meetings…
Manchester City 1 (Nolito) Everton 1 (Lukaku) Etihad Stadium, October 2016.
Manchester City 3 (Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Aguero) Everton 1 (Barkley) Etihad Stadium, January 2016
Manchester City 0 Everton 0 Etihad Stadium, January 2016
Form guide…
Everton: WLWDWL
Manchester City: WWWLWW
Vital information…
Kick off time: 13:30
TV: Sky Sports 1
Odds…
Everton to win: 16/5
Manchester City to win: 17/20
Draw: 19/10
(Odds provided by BetVictor)
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live blog for today’s two huge Premier League clashes.
First, Everton welcome Manchester City to Goodison Park with Pep Guardiola looking to get his side’s season back on track.
Morgan Schneiderlin is set to make his Everton debut following his £22m move from Manchester United.
After that, our attention shifts to Old Trafford as Manchester United and Liverpool renew their rivalry.
United are on a 9-game winning streak and are unbeaten since October as Jose Mourinho leads his side closer and closer to the top four.
Join us for all the action, with the first game set to kick off at 1.30pm.
Here's how they line up at Goodison Park...
...and Everton manager Ronald Koeman has made some bold decisions. Sticking with the 3-4-3 formation he experimented with in the FA Cup defeat to Leicester, the Dutchman makes just one change to that side, Kevin Mirallas replacing Enner Valencia in attack. It means teenager Tom Davies keeps his place in midfield while new signings Ademola Lookman and £22m man Morgan Schneiderlin are on the bench.
Manchester City stick with the same ten outfield players that destroyed West Ham United in the cup nine days ago. Pep Guardiola's only change comes in goal where Claudio Bravo replaces Willy Caballero; Pablo Zabaleta captains the side while John Stones returns to face his former club.
Everton: Robles, Coleman, Baines, Williams, Funes Mori, Holgate, Barry, Davies, Mirallas, Barkley, Lukaku
Subs: Stekelenburg, Jagielka, Schneiderlin, McCarthy, Lennon, Valencia, Lookman
Manchester City: Bravo, Sagna, Stones, Otamendi, Clichy, Toure, Zabaleta, De Bruyne, Sterling, Silva, Aguero
Subs: Caballero, Kolarov, Delph, Sane, Navas, Garcia, Iheanacho
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
John Stones returns to Goodison Park as part of Manchester City's back four.
Kevin De Bruyne was one of two Manchester City players to miss a penalty when Everton claimed a point at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season, but the Belgian is more than proving his worth to the cause.
Sergio Aguero has netted in his last two appearances after returning from the ban that kept him out for most of December, and the home fans have further reason to be fearful today - the Argentine is deadly on the road.
Another away victory this afternoon and Manchester City can truly banish the Goodison Park hoodoo that marked the start of the decade.
The flags are flying high at Goodison Park.
Everton versus Manchester City kicks-off in ten minutes.
The theme tune to Z-Cars rings around Goodison Park as the players of Everton and Manchester City emerge from the tunnel to an expectant sell-out crowd. Their arrival poses many questions: How will Everton's back three cope with Manchester City's riches in attack? Will Pablo Zabaleta merit his place in central midfield? How come there hasn't been a 21st century reboot of Z-Cars seeing as every other classic has had that treatment?
As with every other English league game this weekend, Goodison Park rises as one for a minute's applause to Graham Taylor.
Looking on, Ronald Koeman looks a little guilty. Any chance he can get a retrospective ban for that foul on David Platt?
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