Everton vs. Manchester City: Team News, Preview, Live Stream & TV Info
It's been a whirlwind start to the season for Manchester City. Two games played, two flawless performances. Last weekend's 3-0 win over Chelsea has set the bar high, and City are now being talked about as favourites for the title. It's too early to make any such claims, but on the evidence of what we've seen, the inertia that beset the side last season has disappeared.
In fact, they're closing in on a club record. If you go back to the closing weeks of last season, City have now won eight league matches on the bounce. They've never once managed 10 in their entire history. Manuel Pellegrini stands on the brink of something special.
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A win at Goodison Park on Sunday when they take on Everton carries historical as well as immediate importance. Everton carry a huge threat—their own 3-0 win at Southampton last weekend is proof of that—but City look the real deal. It could be a superb contest.
Roberto Martinez's side may have underwhelmed last season when the distraction of the Europa League impacted their league form, but they look sharp and focused so far this campaign.
Date: Sunday, August 23
Kick-Off: 4 p.m. BST, 11 a.m. ET
TV Listings: NBC Sports Live Extra (US)
Live Stream: not available
Form Guide (last five league matches)
Everton
Southampton 0-3 Everton
Everton 2-2 Watford
Everton 0-1 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Everton
Everton 0-2 Sunderland
City
City 3-0 Chelsea
West Brom 0-3 City
City 2-0 Southampton
Swansea 2-4 City
City 6-0 QPR
Predicted Formations
Everton (from): Howard, Joel, Stanek, Browning, Coleman, Galloway, Holgate, Jagielka, Oviedo, Stones, Barkley, Barry, Besic, Cleverley, McCarthy, McGeady, Mirallas, Osman, Deulofeu, Kone, Lukaku, McAleny, Naismith.
The good news for Everton ahead of this match is the return of Aiden McGeady, who has recovered from a hamstring injury.
However, Martinez is still without Steven Pienaar (hamstring), Darron Gibson (foot), Tony Hibbert (knee) and Leighton Baines (ankle).
City (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Clichy, Demichelis, Denayer, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Otamendi, Sagna, Delph, Evans, Fernandinho, Fernando, Lopes, Nasri, Navas, Silva, Toure, Zuculini, Aguero, Bony, Iheanacho, Pozo, Sterling.
Pellegrini suggested in his pre-match press conference at the City Football Academy on Friday that new signing Nicolas Otamendi would have to earn his place in the side after switching to the Etihad from La Liga side Valencia.
Fabian Delph, Gael Clichy and Fernando have all returned to bolster the Chilean's options.
Players to Watch
Everton: Ross Barkley
Everton's 21-year-old England midfielder Ross Barkley has made a big impression since he broke into the Goodison side in 2013. Very few players his age possess the same technical quality, and even fewer display the bravery he shows. Barkley is a player capable of trying something inventive that gives his side the edge.
He can pass and move, he has great vision and on the evidence of the first two matches of this season he's adding vital statistics to his game. Last week against Southampton, he assisted a Romelu Lukaku goal, had a hand in another and scored a brilliant goal himself.
If he's allowed freedom to roam, he can be a very damaging player.
City: David Silva
There have been a number of standout performers for City in their opening matches, but David Silva has been the pick of the bunch.
The arrival of Raheem Sterling appears to allowed him to go up a level. Sterling's pace and willingness to run in behind full-backs and stretch the play has created space on the pitch for others. Silva appears to be the main beneficiary.
He's been superb, roaming free in the No. 10 role, finding space between the lines to use his passing ability to cause havoc. West Brom and Chelsea struggled to contain him. Can Everton do a better job?
Key Battle: John Stones vs. Sergio Aguero
Young England defender John Stones is the subject of strong interest from Chelsea, according to Michael Whalley writing in the Telegraph, but, with no agreement yet reached, he is expected to line up for Everton on Sunday.
And he will be key to his side's chances of success. Sergio Aguero is the most lethal striker in the Premier League, and stopping him is very often vital in getting anything out of a game with City.
Stones looks class in everything he does. He has a wonderful touch, can pass the ball out of defence and reads the game better than most of his age. However, he is far from the finished article, and a top-quality striker like Aguero can definitely cause him problems.
Aguero's pace and movement are what set him apart, as well as his coolness in front of goal when presented with a chance. In fact, he's the best out-and-out striker in Europe right now.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Everton: +280
City: -111
Draw: +260
Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.
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