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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)
KICK-OFF: In their overtly luminous away kit, Liverpool get matters underway with Adam Lallana's one-man kick-off. The visitors are attacking the Stretford End and within seconds, Gary Neville notices Jurgen Klopp's tactical preference for this match, "Liverpool are using a diamond." Their real jewel, Philippe Coutinho, is on the bench.
3 mins: Liverpool force a couple of early corners, but fail to trouble their hosts. The first is forced behind before the second is plucked out of the air by David de Gea.
6 mins: Like the ready-money round on Catchphrase, it's fast and furious at Old Trafford. After a spell of Liverpool possession, United take their turn to attack. Slick passing involving Anthony Martial finds Antonio Valencia bursting down the right. The full-back aims a teasing cross towards Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but delivers it just behind the striker. It's good, but it's not right.
7 mins: The two sets of supporters exchange songs about Steven Gerrard. That will never get boring.
10 mins: Paul Pogba's face is being animated on the advertising hoarding around the sides of the pitch. If that doesn't put a man off his game, nothing will.
13 mins: Tentative penalty appeals from those in red as Martial goes to ground. Nothing in it. Nothing given.
14 mins: Martial on the march again. The forward comes inside off the left flank and steps up a cross towards Ibrahimovic at the back post, but the delivery is just a little too deep for the striker to trademark karate kick in.
16 mins: Martial's impressive beginning comes to an end where he allows a short pass from Pogba to roll underneath his boot and off for a throw in. Martin Tyler is not quite as excited about the Frenchman's play as he was in the same fixture last year.
19 mins: A huge let off for Simon Mignolet and Liverpool! The Belgian is slow to react to Dejan Lovren's backpass and clatters his clearance into the legs of Ibrahimovic, rushing to close the goalkeeper down. The ball loops up and up and up and over the crossbar.
Moments later, Henrikh Mkhitaryan puts Pogba through on goal with a defence-splitting pass, but the midfielder drags his shot wide of the right post. United are upping the tempo.
23 mins: Marcos Rojo's lack of composure is matched by Divock Origi. After the Argentine had poorly headed clear a free-kick lifted into the box, the Belgian striker had a chance to volley at goal. He rushes the chance, however, and slices straight into the arms of De Gea.
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