Premier League news: Manchester City vs Everton – Five key battles and score prediction

The first instalment of this weekend’s Manchester vs Merseyside double-header takes place at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday as Manchester City welcome Everton.

Unbeaten in seven, City are finally getting back up to speed after a slow start to the season and will be looking to close the gap on Arsenal and Liverpool in the Premier League table.

Everton, on the other hand, are winless at the Etihad since December 2010 and have not beaten City anywhere since a 4-0 victory in January 2017.

In terms of personnel, City are missing a host of players through injury, most notably Spanish midfielder Rodri, while Everton will be without Jack Grealish as he is unable to play against his parent club.

Ahead of the match, Sports News Blitz writer Jon Shea highlights five key battles to anticipate and offers a score prediction.

James Garner vs Tijjani Reijnders

James Garner has started the season in impressive fashion, showing signs of both maturity and quality.

The former Man Utd man has also played nearly everywhere, from full-back to midfield, and become a mainstay in Everton’s side while registering a goal and an assist.

The Englishman will have a huge task on his hands on Saturday, though, when he attempts to nullify the Man City midfield.

Tijjani Reijnders, in contrast, has made an interesting start to his City career.

His debut against Wolves in August cranked up the excitement, but the Dutchman has largely tailed off since that Molineux masterclass.

However, he is clearly a very talented and creative footballer, one you would expect to find his feet in the Premier League soon.

Indeed, during the international break, Reijnders showed his quality for the Netherlands as he got himself onto the scoresheet against Malta.

As a result, if he is on song with Erling Haaland, it may be a long day for David Moyes’ side.

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Iliman Ndiaye vs Nico O’Reilly

Iliman Ndiaye is fresh off scoring a terrific goal for Senegal against Mauritania, a goal which highlighted his skill and brilliance.

In the absence of Grealish, you would imagine he will be Everton’s main threat on Saturday.

Ndiaye, after all, scored the equaliser in Everton’s 1-1 draw at the Etihad last season, and if he can repeat the trick, he will be lauded by the away supporters.

He was certainly the difference in the Toffees’ last outing as it was his penalty that produced the leveller and his cross that led to Grealish winning the match.

The Senegalese international will thus be key to Everton getting anything out of Saturday’s clash.

Nico O’Reilly, meanwhile, has made a promising start to his career, with the 20-year-old looking at home in Man City’s defence.

Despite being a natural midfielder, he has shown an ability to be flexible and put in a good shift in that position.

Pep Guardiola has accordingly put his trust in the young Englishman, starting him in the last seven matches.

That run earned the youngster a place in the England squad, although he did not make it off the bench for Thomas Tuchel’s side.

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James Tarkowski vs Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland missed two penalties against Israel during the international break but scored a hat trick anyway – that about sums up the form that the Norwegian is in at the moment.

Labelled by many as one of the best goal scorers this country has ever seen, Haaland’s pace, power, and variety of finishes have made him a difficult customer for Premier League sides.

Unsurprisingly, he is the Premier League’s top goal scorer this term with nine goals in seven games.

In all competitions, he already has 20 goals for club and country.

Haaland is thus in mind-boggling form, and it is going to be a very difficult task for Everton – against whom he has scored four – to nullify him.

It is yet to be seen who will be alongside James Tarkowski, but regardless, he has a hell of a job on his hands in dealing with Haaland.

Moyes will surely be hoping that Tarkowski can rough the Norwegian up a little bit.

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Jake O’Brien vs Jérémy Doku

Jérémy Doku is enduring his best spell as a Man City player, successfully combining pace with end product.

Doku has provided three assists in his last two home league matches and continued that form during the international break, setting up Belgium’s equaliser against Wales.

The winger can tear any defence apart on his own with trickery and pace, making him a very difficult customer for Jake O’Brien.

O’Brien had his first spell at centre-back last time out as he filled in for Michael Keane when the latter went off injured.

The Irishman will likely return to right-back for the meeting at the Etihad and has had mixed performances in that position so far this season.

You’d imagine Everton will adopt a conservative approach to the match, which may benefit O’Brien by not requiring him to be so high up the pitch, but it will be a tough match for the whole defence to keep out Pep’s men.

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Beto vs Joško Gvardiol

Beto or Thierno Barry – that is the question that Moyes has to answer, again.

Barry started Everton’s last outing against Crystal Palace, and his first 45-minute cameo was dreadful to say the least.

Beto, along with the other substitutions, ultimately changed the game as he made a menace of himself.

He has admittedly only scored one league goal this season while looking more threatening off the bench at times, but Moyes will hope that he can be a handful for the City backline.

In contrast, Croatian international Joško Gvardiol has shown his attacking prowess throughout his time in Manchester, managing two in his last two games.

He returned to action after injury for the Manchester derby win in mid-September and has started every match since, showing his importance to Guardiola.

City are moreover unbeaten with Gvardiol in the side, with his strength and power making him a difficult customer to get the better of.

Summary

Without Grealish in the side, I think it will be an uphill task for Everton to get anything out of the match, although I do believe Moyes’ men will give a solid account of themselves.

Score prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Everton

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