Man City vs Everton – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Pep Guardiola’s side aim to leapfrog Liverpool into top spot, as Kevin de Bruyne starts on the bench
His hat-trick at Brentford last Monday earned City a ninth consecutive victory as they begin to hit their stride once again.
And Phil Foden looked sharp in the warm-ups as we approach kick-off.
Dyche marks 300 Premier League games… in the stands
A milestone occasion for Everton boss Sean Dyche as he reaches 300 games in charge in the top-flight.
‘I’m pleased with that because it’s tough to get in the Premier League as a manager so to have that longevity, it feels pretty good,’ he said on TNT.
But a touchline ban means he’ll have to watch from a distance today.
Everton going through their paces
Just 20 minutes to go now until kick-off at the Etihad
Should football introduce a blue card?
It’s been the big talking point in football this week… will we see a blue card added to the referee’s pocket alongside the yellow and red ones we all know.
It would be awarded for dissent and cynical fouls and lead to a 10-minute sin-bin for the offender.
But it’s fair to say the reception from Premier League managers has been lukewarm…
Guardiola: ‘I am one yellow card from a two-game ban… the refs will be protected today!’
Pep Guardiola in relaxed mood as he chatted on TNT Sport a little while ago.
Saying he believes Phil Foden has found his best position, how he loves the entertainment thrown up by the Premier League and how Sean Dyche’s touchline ban has him worried.
Rodri: ‘It’s going to be much tougher to win the title this time’
What a year Rodri has enjoyed! He went a whole year playing for Man City without losing a single match and scooped five trophies in so doing.
But the Spaniard is predicting a Premier League title race that goes to the wire as he believes Liverpool, Arsenal, Villa and Spurs will all challenge City.
Foden: ‘We’re playing good football… dominating games’
Phil Foden is in outstanding form at the moment, scoring three in the win at Brentford on Monday night. He chatted to TNT Sports ahead of this game.
Sean Dyche, who serves a touchline ban today after picking up three bookings, has named an unchanged team after Everton grabbed a last-gasp 2-2 draw with Tottenham last Saturday.
Midfielder Amadou Onana is on the bench after two games out with a knee injury.
Here’s the Manchester City team
Man City XI: Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Stones, Ake; Rodri; Foden, Alvarez, Nunes, Doku; Haaland
Pep Guardiola has made four changes from the team that beat Brentford 3-1 on Monday night.
John Stones and Manuel Akanji come into defence in place of Kyle Walker and Josko Gvardiol, while Matheus Nunes and Jeremy Doku are midfield replacements for Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva.
All four of those who drop out are among the subs, along with Jack Grealish.
Team news coming up shortly
We will bring you the confirmed team line-ups from the Etihad Stadium in just a couple of minutes’ time. Stay tuned.
Inside Everton’s new £550m stadium
Everton fans were treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the dressing room inside their new £550million stadium as former captain Phil Jagielka was taken on a tour of the site at Bramley-Moore Dock.
Work is well underway on the new ground which will replace Goodison Park and seat 52,888 spectators, a project that is crucial to the club’s future – although the completion date had previously been delayed amid a search for additional funding.
However, much of the ground has taken shape even though there is still plenty of work to do ahead of its targeted opening at some point in the 2025-26 campaign.
Click below to see the pics
Not the greatest omen for the Toffees
Manchester City are unbeaten in 13 Premier League matches against Everton since losing 4-0 at Goodison Park in January 2017 (W11, D2)
The Toffees recorded four consecutive league victories at the Etihad Stadium between 2008 and 2010 but are winless in 12 subsequent top-flight visits, though they did earn a 1-1 draw there last season.
Guardiola gives Dyche’s comments on points deduction short shrift
We’ve already had a bit of needle between the two managers ahead of this one.
Everton boss Sean Dyche questioned why his team were handed their 10-point deduction for breaching financial rules before Man City’s 115 alleged breaches were dealt with.
This was put to City boss Pep Guardiola in his press conference yesterday and his response was blunt.
Click the link below to read more.
The relegation situation
It’s been a season to forget for Everton with one 10-point deduction already imposed on them and the threat of further punishments looming.
As it stands, Everton are 18th and so in the relegation zone, a point behind Luton in 17th and safety.
If they can win here, they’ll move ahead of Luton, Nottingham Forest and Brentford into 15th. A point will take them above Luton on goal difference ahead of the games later on.
The picture at the top
The situation at the top of the Premier League table is bound to change quite a bit this weekend.
First of all, City can leapfrog Liverpool and go top if they beat Everton this lunchtime. Liverpool then have the chance tor reverse that again if they defeat Burnley later.
Arsenal and Villa remain hot on their heels and will have the chance to respond tomorrow.
Spurs will go fourth if they beat Brighton this afternoon.
Your Premier League weekend
Manchester City vs Everton (12.30pm)
Fulham vs AFC Bournemouth (3pm)
Liverpool vs Burnley (3pm)
Luton Town vs Sheffield United (3pm)
Tottenham Hotspur vs Brighton and Hove Albion (3pm)
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Brentford (3pm)
Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle United (5.30pm)
West Ham United vs Arsenal (2pm)
Aston Villa vs Manchester United (4.30pm)
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea (8pm)
Can City hit the front?
Welcome to another packed Premier League Saturday. We have seven matches between now and 7.30 and the first item on the agenda is whether Manchester City can take top spot.
A win over Everton at the Etihad this lunchtime will see Pep Guardiola’s side leapfrog Liverpool ahead of the Reds’ 3pm kick-off against Burnley.
It may only be a brief stay at the summit this time but let’s not forget City still have a game in hand on those around them as they look to click through the gears in pursuit of a fourth straight title.
Everton are fighting hard, however. They snatched a useful point against Tottenham this time last week and given they remain one point shy of safety at the moment, anything from today’s game would be huge.
We will bring you plenty of build-up ahead of this 12.30pm kick-off and then all the action live.
