Man City V Everton Barclays Premier League Match 5 -October 2013. Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini must decide whether to persevere with goalkeeper Joe Hart or give a Premier League debut to Costel Pantilimon.
David Silva could play his first league game since August after returning from injury in midweek, while Stevan Jovetic is fit despite a minor problem.Watch Man City V Everton Live, Watch Man City V Everton Live Stream, Watch Man City V Everton Free Live Stream, Watch Man City V Everton Online, Watch Man City V Everton Online Free, Man City V Everton Live, Man City V Everton live stream Online.
Everton loanee Gareth Barry is ineligible to face his parent club.
Darron Gibson and Kevin Mirallas are doubtful with respective knee and ankle problems, and Steven Pienaar is out.
MATCH PREVIEW
I've always thought that jumping on to stereotypes was a pretty low form of wit - but in for a penny, in for pound. Manchester City would have only been slightly more embarrassed on Wednesday night had they been required to wear sky blue lederhosen and stroll through Moss Side in time to the rhythm of an oompah band with pointy feathers coming from their hats at jaunty angles.
Bayern Munich taught them a lesson on a night when the only classy thing about City was their fans' willingness to applaud the total superiority of the opposition.
I'm not sure there are many sides which could live with Pep Guardiola's men just now, and plenty of teams who fancy themselves as half decent will be very glad they weren't drawn in the same group as Bayern.
City's problem is not so much the defeat against an exceptional side, but that it was preceded by that loss at Aston Villa and, whatever their collective shortcomings, it's Joe Hart who is being singled out.
Not since he was playing for Shrewsbury as a teenager has Hart conceded six goals in two games. With England's last two World Cup qualifiers coming up, his every move against Everton will be scrutinised and any mistake pounced upon.
The reality is that, assuming he is fit, Hart will start for England. Think about this - if Hart makes a costly mistake in goal for England then that's his fault. If any other goalkeeper made a costly mistake for England then it would be Roy Hodgson's fault for picking him. Hodgson isn't going to let that happen.
Back to Saturday. If there is defensive frailty or mental weakness in City's ranks, Everton have just the man to lay them to waste in Romelu Lukaku. He looks a thoroughbred striker at the top of his game, a combination of pace, power and finishing, oozing menace and confidence.
Unbeaten Everton won nine of their last 12 games against City under David Moyes, and four of their last six at the Etihad. Roberto Martinez beat them with Wigan in the FA Cup final.
So, just for the record you understand, I'll point out that the last time City lost three on the spin was October/November 2010.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Manchester City have only won one of their last eight Premier League games against Everton (W1, D1, L6).
Their sole victory in that run was a 2-0 home win in September 2011. That is their only clean sheet in their last 15 games against the Toffees.
Manchester City
City have scored in their last 53 Premier League home matches - an on-going club record in the top flight. Birmingham City were the last team to shut them out, in a 0-0 draw on 13 November 2010.
They have scored eight goals from crosses in the Premier League this season - twice as many as the next best side.
City are the only team in the division yet to concede in the first half this season.
Manuel Pellegrini's side have lost a league-high six points from winning positions this season. They lost only seven points from winning positions in the whole of 2012-13.
Pellegrini has won both of his previous matches against Everton: 2-1 victories home and away for Villarreal in the Champions League qualifying round in August 2005.
Everton
Victory would give Everton four Premier League wins in a row - a feat they last managed between February and March 2008. That sequence included a 2-0 victory at Manchester City.
The Toffees are the only unbeaten side in the Premier League. However, they are one point and two places worse off than at this stage last season.
They can equal their longest unbeaten start to a Premier League season of seven matches, set in 2006-07.
Romelu Lukaku has scored six goals in his last five Premier League appearances. He has only played 220 minutes overall in that period, so averages a goal every 37 minutes.