Match Report

It’s fair to say that this trip to the Etihad coming out of the international break had been approached by Evertonians with a mixture of trepidation and anticipation. Boasting a 100% record at home in all competitions and already many people’s pick to the win the Premier League title in Pep Guardiola’s first season in charge, Manchester City looked formidable over the first six weeks of the season.

Tottenham’s impressive stifling of their attacking rhythms combined with Celtic’s exposé of their defensive frailties offered evidence, though, that the Spaniard’s men were far from invincible and, for a few tantalising minutes of today’s game, a stunning victory beckoned Everton following Romelu Lukaku’s excellent break-away goal.

Unfortunately, Ronald Koeman’s side hadn’t caught City on an off day and with Kevin de Bruyne back in the starting XI and Sergio Agüero coming off the bench to offer his potency in their attack, Everton had to be on top of their game defensively and faultless at the back if they were to pull off a surprise.

Despite two uncharacteristic blunders by Phil Jagielka and thanks to the goalkeeping heroics of Maarten Stekelenburg , they almost managed a shock victory but they were punished for one of the rare occasions where they afforded David Silva too much room and left substitute Nolito unmarked to plunder the equaliser.

This was an excellent result for the Toffees, though. The giddy optimism that greeted the four successive wins following the opening-day draw with Spurs had given way to the harsher reality that bit against Bournemouth and Palace, revealing the flaws and areas for improvement in Koeman’s side. So, while there is something to be said for argument that a team with top-four ambitions should be able to go anywhere and win, Everton still aren’t quite at that level.

For most of the first 20 minutes of this contest, it looked as though it was going to be a very long and difficult afternoon for Everton. Oviedo was struggling in vain to contain Leroy Sané and Koeman’s men were pinned back into their own half at times, unable to make the ball stick beyond the halfway line. Indeed, there were times where the ease with which City could move the ball and the movement that made it possible were quite depressing.

It didn’t help that apart from a spell after the five-minute mark, where successive crosses from the Blues’ right were blocked and a move that leed to Lukaku sailing a free kick well over Claudio Bravo’s bar, Everton were giving the ball up so easily. Koeman had stressed his preference for the occasional direct ball forward over pointless possession — the visitors would have just 28% of the ball over the 90 minutes — but too often it just meant it coming right back in the form of more City pressure.

While Everton toiled to find an outlet ball, Guardiola’s side, by contrast, always seemed to have a man over and they swarmed around the box at times probing for weakness. It was to the Blues’ credit, however, that their hosts were restricted during that first quarter of the game to a De Bruyne shot from 20 yards that deflected over off Oviedo’s blocking challenge, a low Raheem Sterling effort that was diverted into Stekelenburg’s arms and a penalty claim by Sane when he felt contact from Oviedo’s boot in the box which referee Michael Oliver waved away.

A tactical shift by Koeman midway through the first period, however, eased the situation. Having guessed correctly that Guardiola would field a back three, Koeman had initially set out with Lukaku, Yannick Bolasie and Gerard Deulofeu in attack but he modified his formation to allow the latter two to drop off and abandon the high press that had been largely ineffective given City’s passing prowess.

That didn’t preclude either wide player from getting forward and it was clear that there were possibilities for Everton on the counter-attack if they could just manage some composure when the opportunities presented themselves. The best in the first half came shortly before the half-hour mark after David Silva had flashed a shot from the edge of the box narrowly over at the other end but Deulofeu spurned a three-on-two break when his ball forward searching out Bolasie only found the feet of Nicolas Otamendi.

What had been a study in the the differences in how two teams can use and keep the ball was heading into the interval goalless when City were handed the chance to break the deadlock three minutes before half-time. Wriggling among the feet of three yellow shirts in the Everton penalty area, Silva eventually jinked his way past Jagielka and was tripped when the captain dangled an ill-advised leg behind him in a lame attempt to check his progress to goal.

De Bruyne stepped up and drove for the right-hand side of the goal from his perspective but Stekelenburg guessed correctly and beat the shot away superbly. Honours even at the break and a half the job well done by Everton because defensively they had been excellent.

To a man, the defensive in front of Stekelenburg had stuck doggedly to their shape and done their best to harry anyone that moved in a sky blue shirt once he crossed the halfway line, and that pattern continued into the second half. Ashley Williams, in particular, was immense at the heart of defence and he had to be, particularly in the few minutes before both sides made their first substitutions in the 55th minute.

The former Swansea defender had been forced to slash a couple of low crosses behind for a corner, while Stekelenburg remained alert to divert Iheanacho’s attempted flick behind at his near post. At the other end, Deulofeu’s last significant involvement before making way for James McCarthy was to force the first and only save from Bravo with a rasping shot that the Chilean palmed over.

It was a rare opening for Everton who, with so little of the ball, were increasingly relying on something special on the counter-attack if they were going to breach City’s goal. It arrived in the 64th minute courtesy of Lukaku who proved that despite being isolated at times and inconsistent in his ability to hold the ball up, he sometimes only needs one opening to score.

Bolaise went for a ball out of defence down Everton’s left, pulling Stones across the halfway line with him and the Congolese international did enough to help the ball on and release Lukaku to romp towards goal with Gael Clichy trying manfully to keep up. The Belgian powered past him, drew Bravo and then whipped a perfectly-placed left-foot shot inside the far post to spark bedlam in the away end.

The 26 remaining minutes represented an eternity through which to hold on to the precious lead but, by scoring first, it had put Everton into an excellent position to at least grab a point. And so it proved, although when another poor tackle by the otherwise impressive Jagielka gifted Agüero the opportunity to score from 12 yards where De Bruyne had failed and Stekelenburg guessed right again and parried his penalty to safety, it felt like maybe it might be the Blues’ day. That feeling was reinforced when the Dutch ‘keeper pawed away a shot from Agüero at full stretch following the resulting corner.

That it wasn’t to be a famous Everton win owed much to one of the few occasions where they switched off and allowed Silva the freedom of City’s left flank and he swung in a cross that Nolito, doubling up on Jagielka with Agüero, ghosted onto to plant a header past Stekelenburg to make it 1-1.

Again, though, credit Everton — not to mention their towering Dutch ‘keeper — for maintaining their concentration and not allowing the match to be turned on its head from there. With the hosts still kept largely at arm’s length, it would have taken a world-class intervention from De Bruyne to win it and he almost provided it with nine minutes to go after Everton gave up the ball following a Seamus Coleman throw-in. It was quickly moved to the Belgian midfielder and his rattled off a quick shot that was rocketing into the top corner until Stekelenburg finger-tipped it brilliantly onto the post.

As many have said in the aftermath of the game, not many teams will go to the Etihad and get anything this season so the result and the performance that underpinned it speaks to the impact that Koeman has had, his powers of motivation and organisation, and his tactical acumen. The key to results likes these, however is to build on them and in that respect, next weekend’s trip to Burnley will be just as important.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

Barkley was dropped for the Man City game with Gerard Deulofeu getting the nod from Ronald Koeman; Baines did not start, with Oviedo playing left back. De Bruyne started for City.

With Leighton Baines failing to recover sufficiently from his recent injury, Ronald Koeman made some surprise choices for the biggest task of the season so far, with Bryan Oviedo preferred over Funes Mori at left back, and Ross Barkley dropped to the bench in favour Gerard Deulofeu, with Tom Cleverly also starting who has probably showed he can provide more of a pressing presence in midfield.

For Manchester City, John Stones starts in a defence that sees Vincent Kompany on the bench, De Bruyne returns, while Aguero is on the bench.

Man City kicked off and the early play was around the Everton penalty area. De Bruyne getting in an early low cross, Everton struggling for possession, and not keeping it when there was a turnover. Sane got close in to fire at Stekelenburg, pushed behind for a corner and the pressure from City was intense, broken only by a free-kick awarded to Everton

Bolasie got forward but could not find a yellow shirt with his cross. Deulofeu tried to release Lukaku, who ran the other way, and City attacked again. But Everton had survived the early pressure and did better to take the ball up the right wing, Deulofeu got an excellent cross in that Lukaku failed to head [properly. Everton won a dangerous free-kick that Lukaku fired high and wide, hopelessly off target.

Sane again attacked Oviedo and tripped over his legs... no penalty. But Everton were still being pressed back and unable to get their foot on the ball, wasting it when they do finally win it.

De Bruyne lashed in a shot that was deflected well over for a corner that came to nothing. Coleman tried to hold Sterling but gave up another corner that was fed back in low, Everton struggling to keep them out, giving up a free-kick on the edge of their penalty area that De Bruyne smacked into the wall and Oviedo needed a touch to deny Sane for another corner.

De Bruyne and Sane again cut Everton's left-side defense apart with only the finishing ball lacking as the Koeman's charges rocked under the relentless barrage. Sterling was next to test Stekelenburg after a brief Everton foray forward came to nothing.

City switched to the ball to the left and won a free-kick for a nothing touch from Cleverley, but they once again defended the threat. But City's ball movement was so slick, the Everton players so slow to press, it was painful to watch at times. Still, the thin yellow line were holding off everything the sky-blue shirts threw at them. With Everton unable to clear a surge saw Silva fire well over.

Deulofeu picked up the ball and was able to run forward but his pass failed to find Lukaku and City returned play, De Bruyne firing a cross/shot well wide. Coleman went in quite heavily on Sterling's ankle but seemed to avoid censure as the ex-Liverpool player received extended treatment, providing an opportunity for Everton to regroup a little.

Gueye helped Oviedo to double up on Sane and win the ball only to lose it back again. Coleman did a lot better to steal the ball off Sterling but his forward ball just came straight back and the ball was pinged around again, with Everton reduced to ball-watching. if the ball did go forward, Lukaku was immediately under pressure and unable to keep the ball.

A period of Everton possession looked better with Bolasie getting in some crosses from the left but the quality was lacking. The tempo changed a little as City seemed to run out of ideas a little as the break approached.

Under more pressure, Jagielka lazily stuck out his leg behind him and tripped Silva, giving De Bruyne a chance to test Stekelenburg from the spot... and fail! A fantastic save from the Dutchman, to deny what would have been a killer goal.

Everton looked very relieved and did their best to expand the game but could still not threaten Bravo in the City goal as Mark Oliver brought the half to an end.

Everton got forward from the restart and Bolasie fired in a great cross that was defended back and Deulofeu got himself offside for the fourth time. City resumed their forward intent but Everton broke free and had a short spell of attacking possession until Coleman gave it away cheaply after Lukaku had done well to hold the ball up.

The best move from Everton saw Bolasie feed out to Deulofeu who fired in a tremendous shot that Bravo palmed away for a corner. But Lukaku could not hold off Sterling and City threatened again, then Deulofeu was offside yet again. Sane whipped in a wicked low cross that Iheanacho almost converted but for good positioning from Stekelenburg

Gueye stole the ball off Iheanacho's toe and fed Bolasie but Lukaku had no idea how to anticipate the tempting forward ball that should have been in his path. There was much more back and forth now, Everton perhaps more open at the back as the ball was deflected behind, but Everton still not using the ball when released. Aguero replaced Iheanacho ;Deulofeu was hauled off before the hour, with McCarthy replacing him.

The pattern of play resumed after the subs, City probing but not as smoothly as in the first half, with Everton looking to break, but Bolasie double-teamed again and City surging forward, Sterling cutting inside, only to have his effort blocked by Jagielka. The next prolonged attack finished with Stekelenburg plucking Sane's cross out of the air.

Another sweeping attack, De Bruyne whipping in a tremendous cross superbly intercepted by Jagielka's and that allowed Everton to break, Bolasie getting in front of John Stones to clip a lovely ball forward, Lukaku picking up the ball and running at the City goal, firing in a superb shot low into the far corner to give Everton a precious, precious lead.

The Etihad, suitably stunned, and only too well aware how few real chances their side had created in terms of shots on goal, wanted to see their clear superiority exerted against the yellow shirts. But Jagielka gave up another penalty, thrying to clear the ball off Aguero's toes. Aguero stepped up and incredibly, Stekelenburg made exactly the same save as he had against De Bruyne!!

Another superb save kept them out only for him to finally be beaten off a wide cross from Silva with sub Nolito heading it back and into the corner of the goal.

Everton were looking tired, not breaking at speed as they needed although Lukaku tried to win a foot race. The game was a lot more even but Everton needed something different... Barkley perhaps?

De Bruyne pulled an unbelievable shot from nothing, that was sailing inexorably into the top corner but for a fantastic leap and fingertip save onto the post by Stekelenburg. Koeman's choice was to replace Bolasie with Mirallas with less than 10 minutes left.

Williams was booked for a nothing intervention with De Bruyne at speed down the City right wing. Another set piece defended away again by Everton. Oveido stayed solid, blocking Sterling again. But Everton seemed to be happy with the point as they failed to put together much forward movement, with lazy balls played into open space for City to collect.

More subs in the last minute, Funes Mori on for Cleverley, with four minutes of added time as Everon looked to steal a point from the Etihad, rather than push for the win.

Everton did finally push forward, and eventually won a free-kick with Barry getting a kick in the process. One last chance for the Blues to win the game, a very central free-kick, 40 yards out, but wasted, allowing City to return to the Everton area and more hearts in mouth until Mirallas was awarded a free-kick and Michael Oliver blow the final whistle.

Manchester City: Bravo, Otamendi, Stones, Clichy, Gundogan, Fernandinho (90' Kompany), De Bruyne, Silva, Sane (71' Nolito), Iheanacho (56' Aguero), Sterling.
Subs: Caballero, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Fernando.

Everton: Stekelenburg, Oviedo, Jagielka, Williams, Coleman, Barry, Gana, Cleverley (90' Funes Mori), Deulofeu (57' McCarthy), Bolasie (84' Mirallas), Lukaku.
Subs: Robles, Holgate, Barkley, Valencia.

Kick-off: 3pm, Saturday 15 October 2016
Referee: Michael Oliver

Michael Kenrick

From My Seat: Manchester City (A)

A game at last after those frustrating international fixtures. I watched a few of them and in the main I found them boring so it was off to the Etihad for a three o’clock kick-off on a Saturday. The team as transmitted to devices was a bit of a surprise but not much made of it or the choice of subs as Big Ron is trusted with such matters.

Lads who had been to the bookies told us according to the odds offered we had no chance. Whilst I conceded that they were favourites, I also had faith that we would be prepared to make a scrap of it and not let them dictate tempo and play through us. As it turned out, I was on the right track as we set up to defend at all costs but with always the chance of a break with a speedy three upfront who were also expected to drop in. I am always interested with how managers play these days... so, looking down on play, I recall seeing 4-3-3 – 4-4-2 – 4-5-1 – 4-6-0 but the one I thought imaginative was often when we managed to break and keep the ball you could see plainly a 1-5-5 which served a few purposes both offensively and defensively. I thought it was encouraging that, after two seasons relying on one way of playing, we were now having players thinking for themselves and one another. If this develops, I am sure we will move from Martinez-ism to Koeinez-ism to pure Koeman–ism quite quickly.

We were under pressure from the off and Man City seemed to be targeting Oviedo’s flank and the lad Sane was no mug. It was taking Oviedo a bit of time to try and work him out, even with a bit of help from Gana, and I must admit I thought Deulofeu could have done a bit more. On 15 minutes, we had been under pressure but Bolasie had not been in the game going forward as it was all on the opposite flank. 20 minutes came up and it had been all City with just a couple of breaks from us; it was sure nervy times and not a lot of noise from our end. One sustained spell of pressure by City had us twitching nervously and it only ended when De Bruyne hit a chance wildly into our end so we all had a cheer. Some pretty build-up play by City had Silva in but he shot over — we cheered again.

Deulofeu swapped wings with Bolasie and we created a break that got him on his bike but his crossfield ball to the unmarked Bolasie was a touch off and got intercepted. Coleman had Sterling squealing like a pig after a good solid tackle so we all cheered again but louder. The clock reached 35 minutes and hearts were still in mouths as we kicked, hoofed and scrapped for every ball as we ensured our ‘They shall not pass’ attitude prevailed.

At last, we had a spell of attacking in a move that saw us look for an opening and killer ball. We would get to the edge of their box and, if nothing on, pull out and start again (I saw that 1-5-5 formation in action) and it went on for about 4 minutes. Now 4 minutes is a long time in this game, and it only ended when Bolasie had a cross blocked after good work between him and Oviedo.

5 minutes to half-time and I thought, "If we can get in all-square, big Ron will be able to impart some Dutch straight-talking and have us ready to resume battle on the front foot and concede nothing early doors." Oh dear; as soon as I thought that, Jags trips a bloke in the box and a penalty is awarded. It was hard for anyone to complain about the decision. De Bruyne stepped up. ‘Oh Hell’, I thought... but, as boot hit leather, the sight of the Stek diving to his left and pushing the ball away had some 2.5k Blues into a frenzied contorted mass. The ref added two minutes. With blood pressure boiling and the lads toiling, we attack as Bolasie broke up a City attack and headed up field but this ran down the clock and the ref blew his whistle for the break. Phew!

Half-time: 0-0 and the chat was varied from “lucky” to “solid defending” and all praised our keeper.

Out for the second half and no changes for us. We attacked first and Bolasie got put in down our left and his cross was just about cleared by Stones on the stretch. We had another attack and Deulofeu was played in down our left by Bolasie and he cut inside and fired a shot of some force that had the keeper making a fine save by tipping it over his bar — good save, that.

On 55 minutes, both managers made subs. Aguero for City – ‘cos they can’t score... and McCarthy for us – ‘cos we don’t want them to. We were concentrating on defence big-style but always looking to see if we could break which to me was heartening. I reckon every Evertonian in the ground, management, players and fans would not perhaps admit it but they would have taken a point at that stage because, such was City’s pressure and our memory banks still full of game fade out from a previous life, leaving us still a little negative.

But this is a different era and on 63 minutes our brains lost a bit of the old and welcomed the new embryonic matter as we witnessed our rearguard battling away some sustained City pressure and a quick break down our left saw the ball reach Big Rom. He outpaced Clichy, bore down on goal and from slightly wide left hammered a hell of a shot past the keeper. Total pandemonium ensued. One up away at City and defending like demons... we could be on for a coupon buster.

Just five minutes later, however, Jags was at it again, tripping Silva in the box. “Penalty,” said the Ref. Aguero was on now so, again, I thought ‘Oh Hell’, but, Lo and Behold, the Stek was at it again and he flew through the air to his left and pushed the ball well away. Oh, the adulation from those from Merseyside. I said to my mate, ‘It must be our day!’

From the restart, City came again and again. The Stek had to fly through the air and claw away a goal-bound shot. But on 70-odd minutes, I suppose it had to happen, although Koeman will not think that, as someone dropped off to sleep. City were doing their probing around our box but, with No Entry signs everywhere, they played it wide to Silva who was in acres. Big Ron will know who should have been with him but, as it was, he was able to demonstrate how well he can deliver a cross when given time. The sub, Nolito was in the middle of the box and he rose seemingly unmarked and placed a header out of even Stek’s reach and into the corner. Drat, I mumbled.

City were buoyed by this and went for it but we manfully got right into ‘They shall not pass’ mode which was great to see. I can remember times when we would have folded. Not only did we get organised again, we broke when we could, and with some purpose, and City respected this by leaving men back. De Bruyne cut inside and, just when you thought he would pass it, he let go a humdinger and yet again the Stek flew through the air and clawed it away for a corner.

The ref adds 4 minutes both teams make subs. Funes Mori for us and Kompany for them. Kompany went centre forward for them but didn’t get a sniff. Mori kicked one and headed one away. It seems a long 4 minutes. Barry went down after a clash, we cleared a free kick. We are all whistling but the Ref wasn’t; we whistle louder – now he does. Yippee!

MotM — Saint Stek of Gwladys

All told, a great day out. Coming off the ground, I somehow felt we are turning a corner and, from conversations held, so are some others. I think it may well take the manager this season and next to have the type of player he wants for every position to fully allow him to play the way he really wants to. When it comes to promoting youngsters, I don’t think he is averse to that but he will want them to be of a standard that putting them in the first team will pose little risk. For example, I think he would have put Rooney in but not Dowell. I reckon this guy is here to win.’

Today’s display pleased me but I can’t wait to see how we approach the Burnley game. They will battle hard and we need to match it and take nothing for granted. Our players will need to put in a shift that matches today and not think, just because it’s not City, we can stroll it.

I wonder if we will get the docks site. If so, will we change our nickname to ‘The Dockers’?

See you soon.
UP THE BLUES

Ken Buckley

Match Preview

Fourteen points from seven games and fifth place heading into another tedious international break represented a solid start to life under Ronald Koeman but the jeering question levelled at Evertonians from fans across Stanley Park has been, “who have you played, though?” — a reference to the Toffees' comparatively comfortable run of fixtures to begin the campaign.

Having faced only Tottenham among the favourites to be challenging for the title this season so far, it's not been clear how the new-look Everton will fare against the “big teams” but with this weekend's trip to the Etihad Stadium, we're about to find out.

There are easier games the Blues could have had than facing Manchester City as the Premier League programme resumes but it represents an opportunity to make a statement, particularly in the wake of two highly disappointing results against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace.

Those two games yielded just one point and, together with the irksome exit from the EFL Cup to lower-division opposition, served to significantly deflate the balloon of optimism with which Blues fans had greeted Koeman's arrival and early record. They have also increased the importance of this weekend's game; defeat would be another set-back in terms of progress and confidence as the team jostles among the pace-setters in the top six but a draw or even an unexpected win would provide a shot in the arm ahead of the games against Burnley and West Ham that will close out October.

Both Spurs and Celtic have provided the blueprint for unsettling City in recent games from which Koeman can plot the downfall of his old friend, Pep Guardiola. Intensity, pressing and vigorously going after the league leaders early all revealed weaknesses in an otherwise formidable-looking side, traits that Everton now possess in abundance thanks to the summer transfer business and the gruelling fitness regimen instituted by Jan Kluitenburg.

Furthermore, though it's not something Everton have shown much of in central areas on the edge of the box lately, movement by the strikers between the central defensive pairing of John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi was also a key to both of those teams' success against Guardiola's men. Certainly, the Blues could benefit from the extra space on the pitch that is likely to open up as City attack something that was in very short supply against Bournemouth and Palace.

Koeman will also be boosted by the return to fitness of Leighton Baines following a hamstring strain and the continued availability of Phil Jagielka and Romelu Lukaku, both of whom look to have recovered from minor thigh problems. While the fullbacks aren't the attacking weapons that they were under Roberto Martinez, Baines remains a hugely important player and his presence can only improve on the starting XI that failed to beat the Cherries or Palace.

Lukaku, meanwhile, will have something to prove on the stage where he failed to have much of an impact in either of Everton's visits to the Etihad last season. Together with his “opposite number” Sergio Agüero, he comes into the game as the second-top goalscorer in the league with five goals but he hasn't scored in this particular fixture for a little over three years and the Toffees haven't beaten City on their own patch since December 2010.

They didn't come close in the league encounter last season either as Martinez's team put in a defensive stand of rare resilience to hold onto a 0-0 draw back in January, albeit against Manuel Pellegrini's considerably less daunting outfit and with the benefit of a fortunate decision by the referee in waving away penalty claims against new City man, Stones.

Everton's back line is considerably stronger this time around — indeed, one that has a better defensive record than their hosts this weekend — but they will have to be as focused and determined as ever against an attack that has been scoring at a rate of 2.5 goals a game this season. And things will have to come together more effectively at the other end where the Blues have scored just once in three games if they are to become the first team to beat City at the Etihad since Manchester United in March.

Having demonstrated a tendency to go with a three-man defence against the Premier League's top teams during his Southampton days, all Evertonian eyes will be on Koeman's team selection and formation. Should he opt for a central-defensive trio, it's likely that Ramiro Funes Mori would get the nod over Mason Holgate and Tom Cleverley would be the player sacrificed in midfield but Baines and Seamus Coleman are likely starters regardless, either as wingbacks or conventional fullbacks.

Further forward, Yannick Bolasie's pace, power and ability to unsettle defences will almost certainly see him keep his place with Ross Barkley likely to be retained in the hole behind the striker. Gerard Deulofeu and Kevin Mirallas may have to be content with starting on the bench and possibly deployed as impact subs in the second half.

Even with Kevin de Bruyne doubtful — it's possible he could start on the bench — Guardiola has plenty of options and depth at his disposal and with the passing intricacy and movement possessed by the likes of David Silva and Nolito, this promises to be a stern test for Everton. No team is infallible, though, and, as Leicester showed last season, they can be vulnerable from set-pieces.

If Koeman can motivate his side into putting on a high-octane, fearless display from the first whistle, there is no reason why they can't pull off a surprise and come away from Manchester with all three points but it will surely require more potency and composure than was in evidence last time out against Palace and on the south coast at Bournemouth last month.

Kick-off: 3pm, Saturday 15 October 2016
Referee: Michael Oliver
Last Time: Manchester City 0 - 0 Everton

Predicted Line-up: Stekelenburg, Coleman, Jagielka, Williams, Funes Mori, Baines, Gueye, Barry, Barkley, Bolasie, Lukaku

Lyndon Lloyd

^* Unfortunately, we cannot control other sites' content policies and therefore cannot guarantee that links to external reports will remain active.