Manchester City will take on Everton in their first home outing of the Premier League season. The Citizens clinched a comfortable 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion at the AmEx Stadium in the curtain raiser, but they had to dig deep due to the Sea Gulls’ resistance. Ronald Koeman’s Everton, on the other hand, clinched a 1-0 victory over Stoke City in the opener, and they will seek to pose a threat from set-pieces with dead-ball specialist Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Players to watch for:
Leroy Sane – Manchester City: The German international rose to fame with the Citizens in the backend of last season where made himself a regular on the left wing. Sane was on the bench for the league opener versus Brighton, but he could come in place for Danilo, who is more defence oriented at left wingback. Pep Guardiola utilised the three-at-the-back formation against the Seagulls in the last outing, but he would surely want more from his wing-backs with the home advantage. Sane notched five goals and three assists in just 26 league outings last term, and he will seek to open up his tally with a performance versus Everton.
Wayne Rooney – Everton: Rooney ended his 13-year association with Manchester United to return to Everton earlier this summer. The 31-year-old could not have expected a better comeback to his hometown club as he notched the winning-header in the 1-0 triumph over Stoke City. Rooney has often proved a nightmare for City fans in the Manchester derby, and there will be a fear factor when he is on the ball with 11 goals scored in his previous 29 outings versus the Citizens. The England international does not possess the flair he once had but will seek to make an impact as every possibility.
Prediction:
Manchester City got humbled by Everton by a 4-0 scoreline in their last league outing away from home. The corresponding home game ended in a 1-1 between the clubs with Everton’s Maarten Stekelenburg proving the hero with two penalty saves. Pep Guardiola would surely have done some homework in the new look Toffees side, and I am backing the Citizens’ to come up triumphs, although there may not be a clean sheet.
Manchester City 3 – 1 Everton
Image – Getty