…that we can pick up where we left off before the international break in terms of our unbeaten run. Fingers crossed for a win…
v Everton
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| 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 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 (occasional 3-6-1):
____________________Haaland(VC)_________________
Doku______________________________________Bobb
_______Reijnders________________Foden__________
___________________Gonzalez____________________
O’Reilly___________________________________Nunes
__________Gvardiol_____________Dias(C)___________
__________________Donnarumma__________________
Subs: Trafford, Lewis, Ake, Stones, Kovacic, Mukasa, Silva, Cherki and Savinho.
Gigi in net.
I’m going for a back-4, occasional 3, of Nico-O-, Josko, Ruben and Matheus.
Nico-G- gets the defensive midfield position while ahead of the Spanish Under-21 international I think it’ll be Jeremy, Tijjani, Phil and Oscar.
Erling up front.
James is reserve keeper while Rico, Nathan and John provide defensive cover from the side. Mateo, Divine and Bernardo make up three midfielders in ‘the 9’, while attacking / wide options come in the shape of Rayan-C- and Savinho.
Notable absences:
- Marcus Bettinelli – Not selected.
- Stefan Ortega – Not selected.
- Rayan Ait-Nouri – Back in training and could very well make the bench this afternoon; with his manager stating that Rayan is much, much better and is close to coming back.
- Abdukodir Khuanov – Continues to be absent with an ankle injury. It was hoped that the 21-year-old would at least be back in training after the international break and although Pep offered no update during his pre-match press conference on 17th October, one online source stated that the Uzbekistan international’s return to fitness has been delayed by about a week.
- Kalvin Phillips – Not selected and an apparent target for today’s visitors in the winter transfer window; quite likely on loan initially.
- Rodri – Remains out with a hamstring injury and there is no update on a possible return date.
- Omar Marmoush – For Omar, read Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Yep.
Result?
A decent start from the blues of Merseyside sees them sit 8th and just 2 points behind us after 7 games played. As if often the case with The Toffees, they don’t score much but they are a tight outfit; netting just 9 but conceding only 7.
They hit a bit of a wobbly patch recently with two draws and a defeat but they bounced back with an excellent win against a very much in form Palace side last time out. It was on loan Jack Grealish who got the winner in the 93rd minute and his absence for the visitors, due to the on loan / parent club rule, leaves them without a player who has 1 goal and 4 assists in 7 league appearance.
I probably don’t need to tell any dedicated City fan that we go into this fixture on a run of 7 games unbeaten in all competitions and I’m sure I’m in good company as I cross my fingers in the hope that the latest break in domestic football doesn’t break our momentum. Seeing some colleagues return to the training pitch after long absences should provide any boost they might need.
We’ll need to huff ‘n’ puff but I’m going for us to eventually blow Everton’s house down. I’m going for City win.
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result:
Prediction: Win
Result: Draw
Expected weather conditions during the game: The theme for the last fortnight continues this afternoon – grey and still. 13C is the forecasted temperature. ☁️🥼🥧🍺
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| Solidarity |
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