On Sky
Manchester City head for Merseyside for yet another ‘cup final’ in the continuing nailbiting quest for the Premier League title…
Vital Quotes:
Manuel Pellegrini:
‘I think that Everton at any stage of the season will be a very difficult team, Roberto has done a very good job. We are sure that we are going to have a very tough game there. In football you never know, so the important thing for us is to think about what we can do and the only thing we can do is to try and win our games.’
Pablo Zabaleta:
‘We know we have been in this situation two years ago and the most important thing we have learned from that time is the team spirit, to keep fighting and keep going. The champions are the ones who have this habit and we are one of those teams that fight for it. Hopefully, we can continue winning all the games and show one more time that these players, this manager, this team, with the staff still working hard, is very hungry for the title.’
Roberto Martínez:
‘We are not going out on the pitch to do anyone a favour. We’re going out on the pitch to make sure we perform as well as we can. I’ve always felt that the relationship between the two clubs in this city, over many years, has had some incredible chapters. This would be another fascinating chapter. But I don’t think there’s any doubt about the integrity of our club towards the league. We are a team who want to win every single game that we go into. We’re looking at ourselves. They are precious points for us. We can’t afford not to give everything we’ve got for every point we have left to play for. Helping other teams is not the way we do our work. We just focus on trying to win for ourselves, and on having high standards in every game we go into.’
Leon Osman:
‘It’s a big game at Goodison and we want to enjoy it and win it. City needed to rely on a slip-up by Liverpool to give them a chance so they’re probably favourites now and it’s up to us to stop them.’
Tim Howard:
‘We’ll have it all to do against Manchester City. It will be wide open, a tactical battle with top players on display. Those games take care of themselves. Those are the easy games to play in.’
Everton Team News:
OUT:
Gareth Barry – Loan / Not Eligible
Kevin Mirallas
Brian Oviedo
LATE FITNESS TEST:
Sylvain Distin
Player to watch: Steven Naismith
The 27 year old Scot is a wily campaigner who has begun to make his mark at Goodison with some fine performances: ‘All we are concentrating on is securing European football. We would be so disappointed if we couldn’t finish in fifth. I think we have deserved it for the way we have played this season and the push we have had for fourth.’
Manchester City Team News:
OUT:
Jesús Navas
Matija Nastasić – Back in Training, will not play.
Player to watch: Álvaro Negredo
City’s Beast has had a torrid time of it since late January and the 28 year old has since then not added to the 26 goals he has thus far scored in 50 appearances of which 18 were made as a substitute. He will get a run out at some stage of this crucial fixture and the signs are there that a man renowned for his will to win might yet have a further say in City’s league campaign: ‘I was playing games when I wasn`t fully fit – but things have turned around now and I am fit again. I will be fighting hard to return the City fans support – I appreciate how much they have supported me.’
Match Facts & Stats
THE NUMBERS GAME:
City with 50, have scored the most second-half goals in the Premier League this season.
Since the end of November, City, with 27, have taken more points away from home than any other club.
Yaya Touré needs 1 more goal to become only the 2nd central midfielder to score 20 or more goals in a Premier League season. Frank Lampard the pioneer.
HEAD TO HEAD:
League: 61 Everton Wins, 39 Draws, 60 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, 64 City Wins
THIS COULD BE THE LAST TIME:
Sa 05Oct 2013 Man City 3 – 1 Everton
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
Betting: Everton 7/2 Draw 14/5 City 8/11 Racing Post Soccerbase
FORM LAST 6 GAMES ALL COMPETITIONS:
Everton: WWWLWL
City: DWDLWW
CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS AND FOLLOW THE GAME LIVE IN THE VMC FORUM
TV COVERAGE: Sky Sports 1 HD
LiveOnSat.com
mcfcofficial: PELLEGRINI: Everton v City Press Conference
Ref Watch:
Lee Probert from Wiltshire 4th Official: J Moss
– Last Season: Sa 06Oct 2012 Man City 3 – 0 Sunderland PL , Sa 01Dec 2012 Man City 1 – 1 Everton PL, Sa 16Mar 2013 Everton 2 – 0 Man City PL
– This Season: Su 25Aug 2013 Cardiff 3 – 2 Man City PL -2012/13: 34 Games, 105 Yellows, 6 Reds. -2013/14: 29 Games, 51 Yellows, 5 Reds.
Match Prediction:
Johnny On The Spot: Before the first whistle sounded last summer, the proximity of this eternally difficult fixture to the end of the season had a number of Blues raising eyebrows over its timing should the Premier League title campaign head for a nailbiting climax. Well, that is precisely where we are at as Manuel Pellegrini’s squad arrive on Merseyside aiming to be the first City side to win at Goodison Park in five seasons. In the context of City’s bogey sides, for Sunderland away, read Everton away. Mirroring our strife at The Stadium of Light, the past 3 City defeats chez The Toffees saw The Blues dominate possession but ultimately were undone by a failure to convert chances. A repeat cannot be afforded on Saturday evening such is the too close to call scenario of what remains a three way title chase. Furthermore, City need this title secured by our high quality squad with UEFA breathing down the club’s neck and an urgency within the club to build a dynasty?Yet this correspondent has the feeling that this time around a battle hardened City, a team full of title winning experience in these circumstances, facing their 55th competitive match of a compelling season on four fronts have regained control of the title’s destiny and are not going to let it slip…By way of contrast, Everton, having thrown away their chances of Champions League qualification are essentially assured of a Europa League challenge next season and only require three points from their 2 remaining games to ensure that a fine 5th place finish is secured. I think that City, looking focused and assured last time out have more to play for and it is this edge, alongside the fact that an Everton win would almost certainly hand arch rivals Liverpool a first top flight title in 24 years that tips the balance in City’s favour. I further suggest that Gareth Barry’s loan rule absence is a big blow to Everton and the loss of the assurance he brings in front of the Toffees defence will prove key in a midfield battleground where this game will be won and lost. I perceive this clash to be City’s chance to deliver the type of knock out blow to our title rivals that has eluded us to date and I’m banking on another professional performance by the close to full strength Engineer’s men who have lost only one game away in the league since early November.
Everton 0 City 2
Next Fixtures:
all times East Manchester BST
We 07May 19h45, Aston Villa, The Etihad, PL
Su 11May 15h00, West Ham, The Etihad, PL