Monday, January 30, 2012

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31.01. (Tue) 21:00 Everton - Manchester City FC

Roberto Mancini, Manchester City
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
EVERTON

Howard
Neville, Heitinga, Duffy, Baines
Rodwell, Fellaini
Drenthe, Cahill, Donovan
Saha
MANCHESTER CITY

Hart
Richards, Kompany, Lescott, ClichyMilner, BarrySilva, Aguero, Nasri
Dzeko
David Moyes will again be unable to call upon first choice centre-back pairing Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka due to injury. Shane Duffy, 20, looks set to deputise alongside Johnny Heitinga. Jack Rodwell could make a return to the side after recovering from a hamstring injury picked up in the defeat to Bolton, although if not, expect Darron Gibson to retain his place in central midfield.
City welcome back captain Vincent Kompany following his four game suspension for a two-footed challenge on Nani in the Manchester derby.
They will, however, be without the suspended Mario Balotelli and Kolo and Yaya Toure, who are still away at the African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast.
DID YOU KNOW?

  • The last time these two sides met it was Roberto Mancini’s men who came out on top courtesy of a Mario Balotelli strike and a late James Milner effort.
  • Everton did, however, take all three points in the last meeting at Goodison Park, with Leon Osman grabbing the headlines after Sylvain Distin had cancelled out Yaya Toure’s opener.
  • Since Christmas Roberto Mancini’s side have won just three games in all competitions, being dumped out of both domestic Cup competitions in the process.
  • The Toffees have won just three of their 11 home games in the league this season, less than the four victories they have managed on the road.
  • Only city rivals United have taken more points away from home than Manchester City this season.
  • Since Sheikh Mansour arrived in Manchester in 2008, Everton have won five of their seven meetings with the Merseyside outfit.
  • David Moyes’ men have taken just two points from their last four league games.
  • Tim Cahill’s goal in Everton’s last Premier League outing against Blackburn was the Australian’s first for over a year.
  • Manchester City’s David Silva (right) has by far and away the most assists to his name in the Premier League this season, with 12.
  • Manchester City’s three goals against Tottenham took their league total to 60 goals, the same amount they managed in the whole of last season after just 22 games
Prediction
Neither side goes into the game in great form, with the home team looking anxiously over their shoulder as they sit precariously about the drop zone. David Moyes’ men tend to come out on top when the two sides meet, but a much transformed City side should have enough to take all three points from Goodison Park.
Editor's Prediction
Everton 0-1 Manchester City