Everton vs Manchester City. Premier League.
Goodison ParkAttendance39,588.
Sunday 15 January 2017 11:15, UK
Morgan Schneiderlin could make his Everton debut when they host Manchester City, live on Nissan Super Sunday.
The midfielder completed a £24m move from Manchester United to Everton on Thursday and Toffees manager Ronald Koeman told the club's website: “He’s got good fitness. Of course he needs game-time because that is what he has really missed in the last few months.
“He did all of the training sessions with Manchester United but everyone knows playing in a game is totally different than doing training sessions every day. We will see what happens for the weekend. We will need to decide if he is part of the squad.”
The match will see John Stones return to Goodison Park after he left to join City in the summer.
Stones spent three years with the Toffees before moving to City, who have won five of their last six games in all competitions.
“It will be strange to go back,” Stones told Sky Sports. “As I’m sure it is for everyone the first time they go back to face their previous club.
“There's mixed emotions. I’ve got a lot of friends there, I played a lot of games for Everton and a lot of my family has got friends there, so it’s a big occasion for them, as it is for me.”
Team news
Both Schneiderlin and Ademola Lookman, who signed earlier this month from Charlton, are in contention for Everton.
Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and midfielder James McCarthy are fit after returning to training and Aaron Lennon has overcome a knock.
Idrissa Gueye is at the Africa Cup of Nations and Tom Cleverley has joined Watford on loan.
Vincent Kompany is in contention for City, having not featured since injuring his knee against Crystal Palace in November.
Leroy Sane is available while Kevin De Bruyne has been ill in the week but is expected to be fit.
Fernandinho is suspended and Fernando is an injury doubt while Gabriel Jesus, who signed for City last summer but only recently joined up with the team, is not yet eligible to play.
Opta stats
Everton are winless in their last seven Premier League games against City (D3 L4). Prior to this run, they had won six of the previous eight (D1 L1).
City have won two of their last three games at Goodison Park, having lost the previous four to David Moyes’ Everton between 2010 and 2013.
Three of Everton’s last five goals against City in the Premier League have been scored by Romelu Lukaku.
Since Lukaku’s debut for Everton in September 2013, only Sergio Aguero (77) and Harry Kane (59) have scored more Premier League goals than the Belgian (54).
Yaya Toure has been directly involved in six goals in nine previous Premier League appearances against the Toffees (three goals and three assists).
Aguero has had a hand in 139 goals in 164 Premier League appearances for City (113 goals, 26 assists).
Leighton Baines’ next assist will be his 50th in the Premier League. He’s currently on 49 assists, five more than any other defender in the competition’s history.
Paul Merson's prediction
I don’t know what’s going on at Everton. They lost at home in the FA Cup to Leicester when they have nothing else really to play for this season. I find that very strange.
I watched Man City at West Ham and if they play half as good as that I can’t see anything other than an away win. Draws are no good for City so I expect them to win.
They had a good result with 10 men against Burnley then ripped West Ham apart, so if they can get it right and Pep Guardiola stops swapping and changing the team every week then they can go on a run and they will be alright.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (12/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Manchester City are Sky Bet’s 4/5 favourites for the victory with Everton given a 16/5 chance while the draw is priced at 11/4. Pep Guardiola’s men headed in the weekend as the 7/1 third favourites to win the Premier League, while their hosts are 12/1 to climb into the top six. Sergio Aguero heads the first goalscorer betting at 3/1 with Romelu Lukaku considered the Toffees main threat at 4/1, while the pair are 7/2 to both find the net.
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