Another opportunity to try…

…for a clean sheet but more importantly, of course, get another vital 3 points as the battle at the top continues.

v Everton

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 9/11).

A very fluid 4-1-4-1 / 4-2-3-1 (occasional 3-6-1):

____________________Haaland____________________

 

 

Doku________________Alvarez_______________Foden

 

___________________De Bruyne___________________

 

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Gvardiol__________________________________Walker

_____________Ake_____________Stones____________

 

 

____________________Ederson_____________________

Subs: Ortega, Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Kovacic, Nunes, Silva, Bobb & Grealish.

Ederson continues in net.

Perhaps a slight change in defence but not much – I can see John coming in for Ruben for this one in order to give us that occasional 3-6-1 look and he is likely to be joined at the back by Josko, Nathan & Kyle.

Rodders to protect those from his midfield patrol area, while I think we’ll see an attacking quartet of Jeremy, Kevin, Julian & Phil.

Erling ‘up front’ hoping to get off the goalscoring mark following 2 months out with a foot injury (he already has one assist since that resumption).

Stefan is the reserve stopper; Rico, Manuel & Ruben are the defenders on the side. Mateo, Matheus & Bernardo, who could possibly be rested for Tuesday’s trip to Denmark, are three midfielders in ‘the 9’, while Oscar & Jack are two wingers waiting for their chance.

Notable absences:

-       Sergio Gomez – Not selected.

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

Yes.

However, I want to add that if it’s at all possible, I’d like to see an opportunity in Saturday’s game where we can withdraw a good-number of players ASAP so-as-to rest / protect the likes of Nathan, Rodri, Kevin & Phil ahead of another packed fixture list, which consists of 8 matches in the next 3-½ weeks in 3-different competitions! Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday is the marching beat immediately ahead of us…

Result? No wins in the league since 16^th December but three, back-to-back league draws does suggest to me that there remains a steely resolve about The Toffees; not least because two of those draws came against Aston Villa and Spurs.

If our players want any further evidence that they shouldn’t take Saturday’s game lightly then the last time we faced the Merseyside blues at home there were warning signs when, just as is the case this time, we came up against a side battling for their very top-flight existence. The result? They grabbed a draw form us.

We have been warned.

To further ram that point home, we faced a side last Monday who are only 3 points ahead of Everton and despite some impressive-looking stats in our favour; anyone who watched the game will know that it was a tough match at times in terms of plenty of opportunities for Brentford to deny us all-3 points. Excellent performance by their keeper I thought too!

So, another game where we’ll have to hammer and hammer on the opposition’s door, no doubt, but whilst at the same time be mindful of break-away chances from our visitors. We also need to defend better / be more alert at the back – when we were 2-1 up last Monday night, we were SO sloppy at the back at times that we almost undid our hard work getting back into the game. 🙄

All things considered, I’m going for a home win…and I think we might just manage a clean sheet tomorrow too 🤞. Top of the league by around 2:30pm on Saturday is my guess, even if it’s only for a few hours. 👍

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result:

Prediction: Win

Result: Drew

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: After a wintery, stormy and wet few days, calmness descends on the area. Sunny intervals / light cloud; 9C with just a light breeze and…dry!

Just a reminder…

They’ll be no pre-match blog-postings from me now until just before our Premier League home game against Brentford on Tuesday 20^th December due to a week’s holiday.

Thank you, as always, for taking the time to read.

Solidarity