Everton vs Manchester City team news: David Silva one of seven changes as Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany return from injury
Everton show three changes but James Milner is a notable absentee for City
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Your support makes all the difference.Manuel Pellegrini has made seven changes to his Manchester City side for the Premier League trip to Everton after knocking Sheffield Wednesday out of the FA Cup last weekend in a clear sign of their strength in depth this season.
Yaya Toure is a notable absentee as he has departed the club to join up with the Ivory Coast for the African Cup of Nations, while Frank Lampard drops to the bench after a turbulent and embarrassing week that has revealed he never signed a deal with New York City FC despite being announced as a signing last year.
Joe Hart returns in goal with Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis and Gael Clichy all coming into the defence, with Eliaquim Mangala the only one to be retained in the back-four. Bacary Sagna and Aleksandar Kolarov are named on the bench, where they are joined by a fit-again Vincent Kompany.
James Milner misses out on the squad altogether amid talk of a move to Manchester City, so Fernandinho partners Fernando in midfield with David Silva and Samir Nasri returning to the side to join Jesus Navas in an attacking trio that will play behind Stevan Jovetic.
An even bigger boost than Kompany’s return though is the site of Sergio Aguero’s name among the replacements, with the striker recovered from a knee injury he picked up in the corresponding fixture at the Etihad in early December.
Everton’s side shows three changes from the 1-1 FA Cup draw with West Ham on Tuesday, with Leighton Baines returning to the side to replace Bryan Oviedo at left-back.
John Stones also comes into the defence at the expense of Sylvain Distin, and Kevin Mirallas drops out of the staring XI with Aidan McGeady preferred in midfield.
Line-ups:
Everton: Joel, Baines, Jagielka, Stones, Coleman, Besic, Barry, McGeady, Naismith, Barkley, Lukaku.
Subs: Griffiths, Eto’o, Oviedo, Kone, Mirallas, Garbutt, Alcaraz.
Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Clichy, Fernando, Fernandinho, Navas, Silva, Nasri, Jovetic.
Subs: Caballero, Kompany, Kolarov, Aguero, Lampard, Sagna, Sinclair.
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