In what could be the ‘˜title decider’ showdown, Manchester City visit Champions League chasers, Everton on Saturday at the Goodison Park.
In what could be the ‘title decider’ showdown, Manchester City visit Champions League chasers, Everton on Saturday at the Goodison Park.
The Citizens are currently three points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand knowing that maximum points from their final three games will see them crowned as the Premier League champions.
Out of the three opponents, City has an ‘easy’ run-in with Everton, West Ham and Aston Villa on the fixtures list. Steven Gerrard and his merry men will hope that any of the three opponents might help them rescue their title bid. City’s opponents Everton too have a task of their own. With dropped points against Crystal Palace and Southampton, Roberto Martinez’s men are now outside favourites to finish in the top four. Arsenal remains the numero uno option with a single win ensuring their 17th consecutive stay in the UEFA Champions League.
Even though the recent history favours Everton with the Merseyside club beating City at home in each of the past four seasons, the result could prove a decisive one in the finale of the English Premier League. City cannot afford a slip-up just like Chelsea and Liverpool have done over the past few games with the Title advantage all in their hands. “We are back with a big chance of being champions again. We are not depending on other teams. It only depends on us, and that has changed a lot,” said midfielder Fernandinho in a press conference prior to the game.
City could go with a upper hand in the Saturday’s kick-off with their on-loan midfielder Gareth Barry ineligible to play for fifth-place Everton against his parent club, much to Roberto Martinez’s annoyance as they look to secure a Europa League spot. City boss Manuel Pellegrini may recall David Silva if he is able to play through the pain of an on-going ankle problem.
Even though Everton have done well against the top-half sides of the Premier League, this City side is on a roll at the moment and with the likes of Yaya Toure and Edin Dzeko in a rampaging mood, the blue half of Merseyside need some luck of beat these Citizens.
Probable starting line-up:
Everton: Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Stones, Baines; Naismith, McCarthy, Osman, Deulofeu, Barkley, Lukaku.
Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Yaya Touré, Fernandinho, Silva, Agüero, Nasri, Dzeko.
