With pre-match build up well underway, and only a few short hours to kick-off I thought I’d take a peek at today’s papers to see how are they are covering the game.
Pep explains reason behind defensive selections
The Manchester Evening News report on why Pep has revealed the thinking behind his tinkering with the team’s defence this season.
Guardiola admitted after the win over West Ham that he had made some mistakes with selections in the past that haven’t worked, including playing three at the back in certain matches.
And in his pre-match press conference before this afternoons match Guardiola elaborated on the thought behind tinkering with the defence.
When asked whether he is now leaning towards playing a back four, Pep replied: ‘All the managers would like to give stability to the team.
‘I need to see how comfortable the players are with playing four, five or three [at the back.]
‘It is to have control about the game, it is not for any special reason for myself, it is about being stable from behind.’
VMC Match Preview
We stay with the M.E.N for the next topic.
How will John Stones handle the pressure of playing against his former club?
Everton fans had a mixed relationship with Stones during his spell there so it will interesting to see how they receive the defender, who they sold for £47.5m this summer.
Pep Guardiola spoke about the defender’s mental strength in his pre-match press conference and in a potentially hostile environment – and Romelu Lukaku up against him – the England defender may need every ounce of it.
Mark Clattenburg Takes Charge Of Everton v City
Today’s starting XI
The M.E.N journalists pick their starting XI.
Pep Guardiola has no concerns about Vincent Kompany’s state of mind as the Manchester City captain prepares to begin his latest comeback reports Andy Hampson writing in the Mail online.
Kompany is in contention to return to action this afternoon after two months out with a knee problem.
The Belgium defender has been hampered by numerous injuries in recent years and his latest setback, sustained in an awkward collision with team-mate Claudio Bravo in November, was his 35th since joining City in 2008.
Yaya is no longer on the naughty step says Rob Draper from the Mail online.
As unlikely reconciliations go, Pep Guardiola and Yaya Toure is surely one of the more surprising.
Having been one of the most important players in Manchester City’s history, Toure became an outcast once Guardiola arrived, with seemingly little hope of playing again. And yet now he seems an integral part of the Catalan’s squad.
Having been persona non grata, partly because of fitness issues but principally because his agent, Dimitri Seluk, had made so many derogatory statements about Guardiola that the manager deemed the player responsible, Toure was not even included in City’s Champions League squad and played just one match until late November.
But following Toure’s public apology for his agent’s statement, he has played in all 10 Manchester City games for which he was eligible, starting the last six.
The journo thinks Yaya will make the Champions League squad? Do you?
Yaya Toure opens up on his difficult situation at Manchester City with Pep Guardiola says Colin Mafham writing in today’s Sunday Express. As Yaya takes another step on the comeback trail he told of his determination to heal the wounds after a very public spat between coach Pep Guardiola and the player’s agent threatened to see him frozen out of the club.
‘Sometimes the hardest moment in your life can make you grow,’ he said. ‘I have been in a difficult situation before, but all I want now is to bring the sort of football that helps my team-mates and entertain the fans. And to make myself proud as well.
‘I have been an important player here and of course when I was out there was a lot of conversation about me.
‘But for me it was always very, very important to come back to show to my team-mates, to show to the manager that I could come back and help my team-mates again.’
Merseyside v Manchester
Best Bets for Manchester United against Liverpool and Manchester City at Everton
The gloves are on today for the tender blooms of the top flight – but bet that favourite backers get burnt fingers says Alex Hankin from The Mirror.
Alex thinks the 4/5 Manchester City is a fair reflection of the relative strengths of the sides, but Everton`s home bias is just too strong to ignore, and City have conceded in 10 of 13 domestic aways under Pep.
Everton v City Live Streams & Global TV Coverage
Manchester City`s latest arrival Gabriel Jesus must wait to make debut due to red tape following move from Palmeiras reports The Sun.
Pep’s hopes of giving Gabriel Jesus his debut today have been thwarted by red tape.
Until the next time!
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