Everton manager Marco Silva is under pressure early this season with his side having managed to take just seven points from their first six league games in the current campaign. They have lost three of their last four league games but are fresh from knocking Sheffield Wednesday out of the League Cup earlier this week.
After the loss at Dean Court, The Toffees will look to get back to winning ways but have a tough task ahead of them, when they welcome Manchester City to Goodison Park on Saturday. Pep Guardiola’s side put eight past Watford last weekend and followed it with a 3-0 victory over Preston in the League Cup tie couple of days ago. The hosts have beaten City just once in their last 12 meetings and recent form suggests that they will have to work really hard to take even a point from this game.
Everton Team News
In early team news, Everton have no new injury issues to worry about ahead of this game. Andre Gomes is nursing an injury and remains the only player missing from the first team alongside Jean Philippe Gbamin, who is a long-term absentee.
Defence
The centre-back pairing of Michael Keane and Yerry Mina is a balanced one on paper, but the duo has not been at it’s best, leaving Jordan Pickford exposed at the back on numerous occasions. Against the likes of Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne, all three of them will have their toughest game of the season so far.
Lucas Digne played the full-90 minutes against Sheffield earlier in the week but remains Silva’s best option at left-back. He should keep his place in the side at the back while Seamus Coleman should start at right-back, adding some experience to the backline.
Midfield
Lack of options in the midfield roles has seen Silva stick with the ageing duo of Morgan Schneiderlin and Fabian Delph in the central midfield roles so far this season.
But the creativity of the likes of David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne could be too hot to handle for them and the manager needs to come up with a fresh approach to counter that particular threat.
Attack
Everton’s wingers have been their best players so far this season. Richarlison on the right flank and Bernard on the left have added pace, width and creativity to the side but against the likes of Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy or Zinchenko, the duo will have their work cut out if Everton are to test Ederson in City’s goal.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin bagged a brace in the mid-week and could be the danger man for City. He will look to expose Nicolas Otamendi and Fernandinho at the back while Gylfi Sigurdsson will add some guile and stability to the Everton lineup in the no.10 role.
Everton lineup:
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