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Manchester City vs Everton Preview: Ending the season with a win

By Rohan Sengupta

DORTMUND, GERMANY - APRIL 14: Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates with team mates (L - R) Riyad Mahrez and Kyle Walker after scoring their side's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City at Signal Iduna Park on April 14, 2021 in Dortmund, Germany. Sporting stadiums around Germany remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Frederic Scheidemann/Getty Images)
DORTMUND, GERMANY - APRIL 14: Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates with team mates (L - R) Riyad Mahrez and Kyle Walker after scoring their side's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City at Signal Iduna Park on April 14, 2021 in Dortmund, Germany. Sporting stadiums around Germany remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Frederic Scheidemann/Getty Images) /
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Before Manchester City lift the coveted Premier League trophy in front of 10,000 fans at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Everton visit Pep Guardiola’s champions on the final day of the Premier League season. It will also be an emotional one as the Sky Blues bid farewell to their superstar Sergio Aguero at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City do not actually have much to play for in their final league game of another superb season, though, having bagged the Premier League title with three games to spare. Their form in the league over the past few weeks haven’t been exactly promising, with Guardiola’s side losing against Leeds United, Chelsea and Brighton.

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Pep Guardiola will be keen to bounce back from an underwhelming 3-2 defeat against Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Tuesday evening. Manchester City will be aiming to continue their excellent form at the Etihad Stadium, after boasting the best home record in the division this term.

Everton, meanwhile, practically can still qualify for the Europa League following Wednesday’s 1-0 success over Wolves. As things stand, Carlo Ancelotti’s men sit eighth in the table, one place behind the final qualification spot on goal difference.

Coming back to City, Guardiola and co. should be aiming to end the season with all three points. A victory over Everton will certainly give them some much-needed momentum ahead of next Saturday’s mega clash against Chelsea in the Champions League final in Portugal. No team will want to go into the biggest game of the season with a poor result, and Guardiola’s men certainly won’t!

As far as City’s team news is concerned, Guardiola has confirmed that Sergio Aguero has recovered from his niggling problems and is back in training, while Kyle Walker has also returned after missing the last game against Brighton. Joao Cancelo, though, is suspended having picked up a straight red in City’s defeat to Brighton.

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With the Champions League final against Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea on the horizon, expect Guardiola to shuffle his pack and pick a strong enough team to beat Everton on the final day of the 2020/21 campaign.

Predicted XI: Ederson (GK), Kyle Walker (RB), John Stones (CB), Aymeric Laporte (CB), Benjamin Mendy (LB), Fernandinho (CDM), Kevin De Bruyne (LCM), Bernardo Silva (RCM), Phil Foden (LW), Gabriel Jesus (ST), Ferran Torres (RW)