Manchester City vs Everton

, 30 November, 39comments  |  Jump to most recent
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Updated Despite having assumed the mantle of draw specialists with their seventh of the season against Arsenal on Wednesday and slipped to sixth in the table behind Tottenham, Everton go into their biggest challenge of the campaign so far in elevated spirits.

Aggrieved at another refereeing decision that didn't go their way in the form of Mikel Arteta's foul on Steven Pienaar and no doubt feeling that with a bit more composure and guile the Blues could have beaten Arsene Wenger's men, David Moyes was nevertheless pleased at the manner that his side fought back from a goal down.

And that will provide a platform on which to take on the Champions in their own back yard this weekend, a place where the Blues have gone and executed a smash-and-grab raid of the three points before. Indeed, the last team to beat Roberto Mancini's side on their own patch was Everton almost two years ago.

Tim Cahill may no longer be around to terrorise the City defence in a fixture in which he just loved to score, but Everton have a few more weapons than was the case last season.

Certainly Moyes's injury list appeared to be easing as his team ploughs into a thick part of the fixture list. Phil Neville was the only medium-term absentee as he recovers from knee surgey but there is now a question mark over Leighton Baines after Moyes revealed the defender had finished the draw with the Gunners with a hamstring strain.

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The fact that he played the final quarter of an hour or so with the injury would suggest it isn't serious but it might keep him out of action this weekend, if only as a precaution ahead of the rest of what is a tricky December programme.

Though Sylvain Distin can fill in at left back — and given Moyes's penchant to play central defenders as full-backs, it wouldn't be shock to see the Frenchman deployed there — Bryan Oviedo would be the obvious replacement for Baines. The Costa Rican has looked lively in his appearances as substitute since arriving in August when he has been played on his natural left side.

The camp has been buouyed, though, by the return to training of Kevin Mirallas this week. Whether the Belgian is deemed fit enough to start at the Etihad Stadium remains to be seen but there is no doubt that Everton have missed what he brings to the attack in recent games.

Should he pass a fitness test, Mirallas would likely deplace Steven Naismith from the right wing berth, with the rest of the midfield and forward line unchanged.

There has been no mention of any further injury issues is also renewed concern over Darron Gibson who was substituted after 73 minutes on Wednesday. He would almost certainly have been brought off around that time anyway given his lack of match fitness but he also went down a few minutes earlier with an unspecified knock.

Moyes has since revealed that a bone growth on his troublesome thigh tendon could prompt a recurrence of the problem that sidelined him from the beginning of September until this week but he will be assessed before this weekend's game to see if he suffers any reaction.

With the bulk of the pressure on City and Moyes taking a bit more than a mere "knife to a gun-fight" this time around, the potential for a surprise certainly exists if Everton go in there with the right mindset and approach.

They've shown that when they're on their game, they're a match for and should fear no-one, even if they haven't quite been on their game for a full 90 minutes in some time. City away would be the perfect time to pull out another cracking performance and make up for recently dropped points at home and on the road.

Referee: Lee Probert
Kick-off: 3pm

Lyndon Lloyd

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Reader Comments (39)

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Peter Healing
1 Posted 30/11/2012 at 08:14:48
I wouldn't mind another draw from this one.
Tom Bowers
2 Posted 30/11/2012 at 12:04:04
Another tough one but aren't they all these days at least to win? Everton have a decent history away to City but given City are unbeaten we have to think another draw is the best we can get providing the defensive performances are top notch.

Having said that, we will miss Baines not having a natural experienced replacement such as City have. City have many more players who can score goals and one cannot depend on Mirallas to be quite ready except off the bench.

Strength is the key and as Everton are quite weak in midfield and the heavier grounds coming in with all the November rain, City will have control. We will need lots of luck and a decent referee to get 3 points.
Nick Entwistle
3 Posted 30/11/2012 at 13:15:41
We have a great chance here if the defence are on form. May see a return of Heits to deal with their forwards on the deck. Distin leaves me cold for this one.

Gibson has never left the pitch on the losing side for Everton, so we're all set to go! All hail Hibbert!

Eamon Forgione
4 Posted 30/11/2012 at 13:15:44
Yea a draw won't be bad... but that means Arsenal could overtake us if they win.
Kevin Tully
5 Posted 30/11/2012 at 15:04:10
I think we would all be happy with a point here. Having watched City a few times this season, they don't seem to be firing on all cylinders just yet.

I would hope we will see Mirallas back – but Baines will be a massive miss for us. Jelavic needs to step up, particularly away from home. Even if he doesn't score, he has put a shift in, and stop sulking if things don't go his way.

The bookies have us @ 6/1 for the win. If we could sneak a 1 - 0, it would set up the Spurs game nicely.

Clarence Yurcan
6 Posted 30/11/2012 at 15:48:55
Everton 3-1 Manchester City. A brace for Jelli! I guarantee victory, if we believe it will happen!
Andrew Ellams
7 Posted 30/11/2012 at 16:15:01
It will be like taking a knife into a gunfight.
Richard Farrington
8 Posted 30/11/2012 at 17:28:26
Blimey Clarence, what's your tipple?
Peter Webster
9 Posted 30/11/2012 at 17:41:08
"It will be like taking a knife into a gunfight"

Didn't do James Coburn any harm.

http://movieclips.com/3LAj-the-magnificent-seven-movie-fastest-knife-in-town/

Kevin Day
10 Posted 30/11/2012 at 17:42:11
@ Andrew Ellams, we've progressed from the knife/gunfight, more like air rifle vs machine gun, but hey, it's better than a knife eh!
Kris Boner
11 Posted 30/11/2012 at 18:02:12
I'd take a clean sheet for once...
Phil Skelton
12 Posted 30/11/2012 at 18:21:13
I've got a feeling its gonna be a high scoring game great if you want a punt on both teams to score, bad as its bad for the nerves. I'm hoping Santas gonna deliver early and bring me a Hibbert Hatrick and 3 points for the Toffees. COYB
Jamie Barlow
13 Posted 30/11/2012 at 18:33:47
Me too Kris.

KITAPO.

Tony Twist
14 Posted 30/11/2012 at 21:11:31
After the recent run of results we need a win. The good start to the season is a distant memory now,it's time to be professional and be tight and punish them when an opportunity arises. COYB.
Clarence Yurcan
15 Posted 30/11/2012 at 21:48:03
Richard, we need to be more optimistic 'round these parts, too much pessimism. Everton will win the league if we believe!
Trevor Lynes
16 Posted 30/11/2012 at 22:11:52
I'm quite optimistic but I would not replace the reliable Distin with the unreliable 'Dutch man'. With City's quicksilver forwards Heitinga would definitely get booked and give dangerous free kicks away near the box.

I just hope we don't move Distin to fullback and bring Heitinga in with Jags. I would rather play Oviedo at least he seems to have pace.

Jelavic is due an important goal or two... here's hoping!!!!

Andy Crooks
17 Posted 30/11/2012 at 23:46:05
We are quite capable of beating Man City. I am disappointed that some will settle for a point. They are jumped up second raters devoid of class, we will win.
David Barks
18 Posted 01/12/2012 at 00:08:41
City are jumped up second raters??? Are you high? They're the defending League Champions. But sure, we should be favored to win, at their place, where they are unbeaten, why not.
Paul Kelly
19 Posted 01/12/2012 at 00:16:45
I don't think we could beat an egg with the way we miss chances.
Paul Kelly
20 Posted 01/12/2012 at 00:30:41
Like the play on words? Me neither, got to lay off the sauce.
David Hallwood
21 Posted 01/12/2012 at 01:05:09
I've just checked out the betting and we are just over 6/1 to win and just over 3/1 for the draw, I'm not a betting man but that's got to be worth a punt.
Michael Kenrick
22 Posted 01/12/2012 at 05:19:40
We play Man City today, and no mention anywhere of Jack Rodwell?

Apparently he's out with a hamstring injury... in fact he hasn't played for almost two months. Before that, in his first two months at the Etihad, he made just two starts under Roberto Mancini, with three sub appearances.

Something Steve Edwards said yesterday on another thread: "Once they start getting these [hamstring] injuries they keep getting them." He was thinking mostly of Torres, but you have to wonder...

Paul Andrews
23 Posted 01/12/2012 at 08:23:45
We will do well to get anything out of this game. Our midfield may well be over-run in central areas if we play Fellaini too high. We need Fellaini to play a little deeper to give us a 3 in centre mid.
Roman Sidey
24 Posted 01/12/2012 at 08:37:51
Good form against City so no reason why we can't beat them. Having said that, we need a few players to click back into form.
Ian Bennett
25 Posted 01/12/2012 at 09:45:39
2 years since they lost at home against guess who. It's a good newspaper story and it will have to be KITAP1.
Andy Meighan
26 Posted 01/12/2012 at 09:51:04
Think we're dreaming if we truly believe we'll win today. One reason: we don't keep clean sheets.
Ian Bennett
27 Posted 01/12/2012 at 10:02:26
For all the money they have spent, their central midfield is not absolutely amazing is it. I think Barry and Garcia are the weak links in the side, so we need to get at them. Hope Gibson is fit and we go with oviedo rather than tinkering with the centre backs.

Coyb

Brian Harrison
28 Posted 01/12/2012 at 10:53:18
I think it will be interesting to see how we cope without Baines, he has been key to the way we have played this season. I tend to think that David Moyes will switch Distin to full back and bring in Heitinga. The other option is to play Oviedo at full back, he is quick enough to play there but obviously lacks experience in that position.

James Morgan
29 Posted 01/12/2012 at 11:23:41
On a side note, Warrior sports of the shite have chosen Fellaini to be the first person to wear their boots.
Can anybody else smell a kopite sabotage?
Jeff Beaumont
30 Posted 01/12/2012 at 11:24:11
We're doomed - Lawro predicts a 2-1 win for us.
Danny Kewley
31 Posted 01/12/2012 at 11:20:41
We are well capable of beating shitty city bang bang! Should be a cracking game that could go either way but fingers crossed we'll do it ;

Does anyone know a decent stream address? I was on Liveonlinefooty.com/Bit scores but they have vanished? COYToffeeeeeeeeeees!!!!!!

Tom Bowers
32 Posted 01/12/2012 at 11:55:54
Today is a big ask. We lost to team who hadn't won a game and drew against the other. What chance of something against an unbeaten side with the weak midfield that we have?
We have to attack and score goals early but any other tactic is suicidal. This result could decide our season as we will slide sown the table again with RS moving only 3 points behind if they win.
Paul Kelly
33 Posted 01/12/2012 at 13:13:45
Danny . Firstrow, wiziwig, eplsite. but its pot luck on any given stream.
Ged Simpson
34 Posted 01/12/2012 at 14:01:40
All alone on http://www.toffeeweb.com/comment/live/
Brent Stephens
35 Posted 01/12/2012 at 14:05:25
Lyndon, nice pre-match post. Where's Osman as an option on the player of the month poll?! Now if I were a conspiracy theorist...
James Morgan
36 Posted 01/12/2012 at 14:07:00
Same lineup today.
Ged Simpson
37 Posted 01/12/2012 at 14:21:57
http://www.toffeeweb.com/comment/live/
Geoff Trenner
38 Posted 01/12/2012 at 14:27:14
BBC say Baines is playing!
Ken Crowther
39 Posted 01/12/2012 at 14:36:19
Haven't checked; but my memory tells me that up to last season we'd beaten them five times in a row at Maine Road/the Etihad; and they won last season, of course.

Methinks a draw is on the cards.

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