Saturday, September 24, 2011

Man City v Everton: Barclays Premier League 24th Sep 2011



Manchester City will aim to end their miserable run against Everton when they lock horns at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

The Manchester Blues host the Merseyside Blues in the lunchtime kick-off, live on Sky Sports HD2, looking to get back to winning ways in the Premier League after Fulham came from behind last Sunday to draw 2-2 and end City's 100 per cent start.
Roberto Mancini named an entirely different starting XI for Wednesday's Carling Cup tie against Birmingham and fit-again midfielder Owen Hargreaves announced his arrival at the Etihad Stadium by setting City on course for a 2-0 win with a fine debut goal.
That was a welcome boost for City with Mancini having complained about a shortage of central midfielders following the Fulham game, and with their bogey side next up this weekend.
Everton have won their last four games against City, winning 2-1 home and away last season, and since losing 5-1 at City in the final game of the 2003/04 season, the Toffees have won 10 of their 14 meetings.
David Moyes' men also progressed to the Carling Cup fourth round in midweek, beating West Brom 2-1 after extra-time, which took their unbeaten run to five since losing at home to QPR in their opening game.
Everton left it late against Wigan last Saturday before young Greek striker Apostolos Vellios and loan signing Royston Drenthe both scored their first goals for the club to secure a 3-1 win and send the Toffees up to seventh.
City's 2-2 draw at Fulham leaves them two points behind neighbours United but being the early kick-off, they have the chance to go top and put some pressure on their derby rivals.
And just five rounds into the new season, it's already looking like that could be the story of this season's title race - a see-saw scrap between City and United.

Team news

Kolo Toure is in contention after the City defender returned in midweek after serving a six-month suspension for a failed drugs test, but Roberto Mancini has already decided Owen Hargreaves is not yet fit enough for back-to-back games.
Although Mancini is expected to name the bulk of the side that started at Fulham, he could make a couple of changes to keep his key men fresh for the Champions League trip to Bayern Munich next Tuesday.
Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli are in contention along with the fit-again James Milner but Nigel de Jong remains out.
Everton's club captain Phil Neville was left out against Wigan last week but will be hoping for a recall after scoring the extra-time winner against West Brom in midweek.
Vellios and Drenthe are in contention for a first Premier League start after they both came off the bench to score late goals against Wigan.
Louis Saha's chances of selection remain unclear after venting his frustration on Twitter at not being selected for the squad to face Wigan, while new goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann is not part of this weekend's squad.
Possible starting XIs
Man City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Barry, Y Toure, Nasri, Silva, Aguero, Tevez.
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Distin, Jagielka, Baines, Neville, Coleman, Rodwell, Fellaini, Osman, Cahill.














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