Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
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)
4 mins: Gary Neville suggested before kick-off that Everton would need to get in Manchester City faces, and that's exactly what they've done. The home side aren't giving their opponents a moment's peace on the ball, hustling them at every opportunity and flying into tackles. They're not always fair ones as teenager Tom Davies demonstrates, fouling Raheem Sterling and receiving a talking to from Mark Clattenburg.
8 mins: More harrying and hurrying turns a potential Manchester City counter attack into a slick Everton move. Leighton Baines breaks up play in the middle of the park before playing two quick one-twos. Eventually finding Gareth Barry on the left, the veteran's cross towards Romelu Lukaku is just too long.
10 mins: DISALLOWED GOAL!
Kevin Mirallas has the ball in the back of the net but it's not going to count. More neat passing slipped Seamus Coleman in behind, but the wing-back had just gone too early and was correctly flagged offside as he squared to the Belgian to slot home.
12 mins: Controversy at the other end now! A quick Manchester City break down the left sees Kevin De Bruyne square to an unmarked Raheem Sterling in the middle. A heavy touch from the youngster narrows the angle, but he has enough pace to skip around Joel Robles with Leighton Baines pressurising. It's a race to the loose ball between the Everton defender and Sterling, but before the latter can state his case, a swiping foot from the goalkeeper brings him to ground. Mark Clattenburg waves the appeals away, Sterling thumps the ground in frustration.
They would have only missed it anyway.
15 mins: It's end to end action. Another electric break down the City left requires Ashley Williams to cover expertly at the near post and then, within seconds, Leighton Baines is causing panic outside the visitors 18-yard box. A clever-looking pass left looks to have Ross Barkley in, but the forward was caught unaware and that split-second hesitation allowed Bacary Sagna in to clear.
20 mins: Pablo Zabaleta launches into a thumping tackle on the near touchline. You can take the player out of right-back...
24 mins: Raheem Sterling finally gets a decision off Mark Clattenburg after he is bundled over outside the box on the left, but he'll still be thinking it's 12 minutes later than it should have been. Whether that's on his mind seconds later as a lovely ball over the top is met by the City forward on the volley, but he sends his shot - the first of the game - straight at Robles.
27 mins: Robles to the rescue once again. The Everton goalkeeper is lightning off his line to narrow David Silva's angle as the Spaniard finds himself with a sight of goal. Nevertheless, City are starting to show signs of being able to penetrate Everton's new-look defence.
34 mins: GOAL! EVERTON 1 MANCHESTER CITY 0:
A lovely Everton goal! Teenager Tom Davies has been buzzing about the midfield, and it's no surprise that he has played a big part in the opener. Winning possession on the right, the 18-year old burst forward and found Kevin Mirallas wide of the penalty area. This time the flag stayed down, and the Belgian kept cool to square low to Romelu Lukaku, who slid Everton's first attempt on goal underneath the arm of Claudio Bravo.
37 mins: Sergio Aguero goes close to equalising! De Bruyne escaped from Davies on the left to reach a one-two with Gael Clichy, and his low pull-back from the touchline is just out of reach of the Argentine sliding in on goal. Justice is done, however, after replays show that the striker has pulled back Ramiro Funes Mori in order to get ahead of the defender.
From the corner that followed, Raheem Sterling lined up a rasping drive from 25 yards that swerved a yard wide of the post. A decent response from the visitors after falling behind.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments