Don’t Expect a Goodison Giveaway: Everton v Manchester City Preview

Manchester City have a difficult looking match away to Everton in the Premier League and Man City Square try and predict a City starting XI.

Of all the grounds Manchester City travel to, Goodison is one of my least favourites. It is an unforgiving old ground, which if it was on the market would be described by the estate agent as ‘characterful’. For away fans it is all restricted views and roof stanchions, rendering the game partly invisible. Whilst Goodison may be full of history for the Everton faithful, it is a terrible experience for travelling fans and accordingly tends to colour and shape my whole view of the Club.

The pitch at Everton always seems really tight as well and appears compact, with the stands looming close. I am not sure how it measures up to others but it is a claustrophobic environment and City have seldom played well there in recent years. So City travel on a cold February night to an inhospitable ground not ideally suited too our fluid quick passing game. The omens are not looking good.

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Given the recent travails of Liverpool and the animosity between Everton and Liverpool fans no one would be surprised if Everton fans would accept a defeat, almost as though this game could be a free hit. But there is a difference between what a fan might accept and the behaviour of professional sportsmen. Everton will not line up on their own goal line and tap in several own goals because the Everton players are not fans.

Marco Silva and Everton have been under much scrutiny as the expensively assembled side of misfits looks to be misfiring and generally underwhelming. Silva despite 12 months previously being head hunted finds his career on the edge, where he may be 2 defeats away from incurring the wrath of the owner. Players there are probably playing for their futures and as we have seen in nearly every game this season, everyone wants to beat the champions.

Everton have the capacity to score goals quickly on the break and will pose a significant threat to our back line. I will be surprised if they do not score against City. The issue for them though will be in defence and midfield. At the back they are missing Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines and Yerry Mina through injury but welcome back wantaway defensive midfielder Idrissa Gueye following a lay off for a hamstring injury which coincided with interest in the player during the transfer window.

City are without Vincent Kompany, Bravo and Eliaquim Mangala due to injury but everyone else is just about available. It is not clear if this will be the game where Benjamin Mendy is eased back into contention. But the real issue for Pep Guardiola will be managing his squad with the visit of Chelsea on Sunday. Accordingly I suspect Guardiola will introduce some rotation to try and keep his players fresh. There will be difficult calls to make about De Bruyne and David Silva – will those players start or will they be rested?

I have said before I am a believer in always playing your best side in the belief that momentum is critical to get through adversity at this stage of the season but Guardiola may well trust his squad more than I do.

Man City Square Predicted Starting XI

Goalkeeper

Ederson

Defence

Kyle Walker, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Fabian Delph

Midfield

Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva

Attack

Leroy Sane, Sergio Aguero, Riyad Mahrez