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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)
60 mins: City are attempting to pule on the pressure but Everton's defence, now operating as a back five, are chasing and holding firm. Half hour will be a long time to put up this kind of defensive fight though.
62 mins: Pep Guardiola is going for broke. Off goes Pablo Zabaleta from his defensive midfield position and on is the young striker, Kelechi Iheanacho. The 20-year-old is often good for a goal when he comes on, his team badly need him to deliver now.
64 mins: Ronald Koeman responds with a momentous change of his own. Kevin Mirallas has done his job with a goal and an assist, and now it's the turn of Everton's £22m signing, Morgan Schneiderlin, to show the Goodison Park crowd what he can do. As far as today goes, helping his new club protect this lead will be more than enough.
74 mins: Another Everton chance as Ronald Koeman looks to manage this game from the sidelines. Any momentum that Manchester City had looked to build has again been interrupted, this time by the arrival of James McCarthy who replaces Gareth Barry in the home side's midfield.
77 mins: Manchester City muster a shot on goal but, frankly, it's pathetic.
79 mins: GOAL! EVERTON 3 MANCHESTER CITY 0:
What a goal! What a story! Tom Davies has sealed the victory with an effort indicative of his performance this afternoon. The youngster broke up play deep in his own half, burst down the right flank, cut inside two opponents with an impressive dragback. Moving possession on to Ross Barkley, Davies picked himself up off the ground to reach a return pass before delicately chipping over Claudio Bravo. Romelu Lukaku tried to ruin it, by tapping it over the line but barely got a touch on the ball, allowing Davies to enjoy his celebrations among the home supporters.
84 mins: It's all happening now. After Davies has to be held back by teammate Mason Holgate after an incident involving Sterling and Aguero, Claudio Bravo actually makes a save. The City goalkeeper gets a touch on a Lukaku shot that's flashed across the face of goal. Wonders will never cease.
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