City’s hectic phase of 7 games in 3 weeks culminates with the visit of bogey side Everton. A win is of absolute importance at the end of a rollercoaster run…
Vital Quotes:
Manuel Pellegrini:
‘At least four of the last six goals we conceded have been due to a lack of concentration as a unit. We have analysed all the goals conceded…But I think we deserve more points in the table than we have. The next two games after Everton are away in London and we must improve because one point from nine away from home is not good enough…For Everton, football is present and not past. That is why I expect to win.’
Roberto Martinez:
‘We know we will have to be at our best but we will embrace that challenge, and we look forward to facing Man City in their own backyard because, in my eyes, they are title challengers this season. We need to look to ourselves. Only the best can be a good enough performance against Manchester City. ‘
Manchester City Team News:
OUT:
Martin Demichelis
John Guidetti
Stevan Jovetic
Jack Rodwell
Player to watch: James Milner
Milly has to be a nailed on starter for this game. The 27 year old training animal’s never say die approach shone through in a brief late cameo against Bayern. Has earned a start against The Toffees and won’t let City down.
Everton Team News:
OUT:
Gareth Barry
Antolin Alcaraz
Steven Pienaar
LATE FITNESS TEST:
Kevin Mirallas
Darron Gibson
Player to watch: Romelu Lukaku
The brilliant Belgian is a real handful and capable of terrorising any defence on his day. For a young man, still only 20 years old, he has all the attributes that could make for a long and successful career. Will certainly let City’s central defenders know he is around. Full of menace, Lukaku has scored 6 goals in his last 5 Premier League appearances.
Match Facts & Stats
THE NUMBERS GAME:
Everton have won 4 out of their last 6 games at The Etihad. Worse still, City have only won 1 of their last 8 Premier League games against Everton (W1, D1, L6).
Everton may be the only unbeaten side in the Premier League, but they are 1 point and 2 places worse off than at this stage last season!
City have scored 8 goals from crosses in the Premier League this season. That’s twice as many as the next best side.
HEAD TO HEAD
League: 61 Everton Wins, 39 Draws, 59 City Wins
League Cup: 1 Everton Win, 1 City Win
FA Cup: 4 Everton Wins, 3 Draws, 3 City Wins
Total: 66 Everton Wins, 42 Draws, 63 City Wins
THIS COULD BE THE LAST TIME:
Sa 16Mar 2013 Everton 2 – 0 Man City
Sa 01Dec 2012 Man City 1 – 1 Everton
Tu 31Jan 2012 Everton 1 – 0 Man City
Sa 24Sep 2011 Man City 2 – 0 Everton
Sa 07May 2011 Everton 2 – 1 Man City
Mo 20Dec 2010 Man City 1 – 2 Everton
Betting: City 13/20 Draw 14/5 Everton 4 Racing Post Soccerbase
FORM LAST 6 GAMES ALL COMPETITIONS:
Everton: DDWWLW
City: DWWWLL
CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS AND FOLLOW THE GAME LIVE IN THE VMC FORUM
mcfcofficial: City v Everton PRESS CONFERENCE
TV COVERAGE: BT Sport 1 & BBC Match of The Day
LiveOnSat.com
Ref Watch:
Jonathan Moss From West Yorkshire
-Last Season: Sa 17Nov 2012 Man City 5 – 0 Aston Villa, Sa 19Jan 2013 Man City 2 – 0 Fulham This Season: No City Games Reffed To Date-2012/13: 31 Games, 86 Yellows, 1 Red -2013/2014: 5 Games, 12 Yellows, 1 Red.
Match Prediction:
Johnny On The Spot:
After shipping a terrible mauling from the European Champions some say the last thing City need is to face an unbeaten Everton 3 days later. I disagree. The best thing for Manuel Pellegrini’s squad now is to play top flight football as soon as possible in a bid to get that tatering out of their system. Looking at a wide open league table, a win is a prerequisite ahead of the latest two week international break. Failure to secure it and concerns already expressed following the ludicrous defeat to Aston Villa last week will escalate. We’ve learned a lot about City’s revamped squad and backroom staff throughout a rollercoaster 21 days which can be best described as Jekyll and Hyde such has been the erratic nature of the team’s performances. It is kamikaze errors that must be stamped out if City are to realise this season’s lofty ambitions and reassert their standing in the public eye. The ability and potential remain but so too does the complacency. The Engineer is likely to freshen things up for this one. Expect Pantilimon, Zabaleta and Kolarov to feature, maybe even Lescott, but certain starters will be Silva, Negredo and Milner who all galvanised City for the late rally against Bayern. City must tighten up and respond this weekend and I think they will. City 2 Everton 0
Next Fixtures:
all times East Manchester BST
Sa 19 Oct 17h30 West Ham, Upton Park PL
We 23 Oct 17h00 CSKA Moscow, Arena Khimki CLGS3
Su 27 Oct 16h00 Chelsea, Stamford Bridge PL
We 30 Oct TBC Newcastle, St James’ Park LC4
Sa 02 Nov 15h00 GMT Norwich City, The Etihad PL
Tu 05 Nov 19h45 GMT CSKA Moscow, The Etihad CLGS4
Su 10 Nov 1405 GMT Sunderland, Stadium of Light PL
Su 24 Nov 13h30 GMT Spurs, The Etihad PL
We 27 Nov 19h45 GMT Viktoria Plzen, The Etihad CLGS5
Su 01 Dec 16h10 GMT Swansea City, The Etihad PL
We 04 Dec 20h00 GMT West Brom, The Hawthorns PL
Sa 07 Dec 15h00 GMT Southampton, St Mary’s Stadium PL
Tu 10 Dec 19h45 GMT Bayern Munich, Allianz Arena CLGS
Sa 14 Dec 15h00 GMT Arsenal, The Etihad PL
Sa 21 Dec 15h00 GMT Fulham, Craven Cottage PL
Th 26 Dec 15h00 GMT Liverpool, The Etihad PL
Sa 28 Dec 15h00 GMT Crystal Palace, The Etihad PL
We 01 Jan2014 15h00 GMT Swansea City, Liberty Stadium PL