Last season Everton pleased not only with the results, but also with the content of the game. By the way, last season both derbies ended in favor of the Scousers with a victory and a draw. The start of the new tournament brought a setback in the League Cup, where the toffee defeated Huddersfield (2:1) in the first stage, after which they could not cope with the representative of the second league. The team lost to the capital’s QPR in a penalty shootout. In the Premier League the team had a complete failure. Rafael Benitez’s wards scored only one point in six rounds, when they shared the tournament points with Tottenham (0:0) at home. In the last two matches the Blues have lost to Manchester City (0:3) and Brentford (0:1). Today Gomes, Davis, Calvert-Lewin and Mina, who has a muscle injury, will not be able to take part in the duel.
Manchester City opened the season unexpectedly. The team lost in the Super Cup, after which they were defeated in the first round of the Premier League, which finally upset their fans. Then everything fell into place. Pep Guardiola managed to wake up his players, who so far have only been eliminated from the League Cup, where they have not dealt with West Ham. After five rounds of the Champions League group stage, the Citizens came out on top and got a ticket to the spring part of this tournament ahead of schedule. At the finish line the Mancunians were ahead of PSG and RB Leipzig. For 13 rounds of the current championship, City have won nine victories and two peaceful outcomes, which brought 29 points, which is only one less than the leader’s. In the last three matches “heavenly” defeated Manchester United (2:0), Everton (3:0) and West Ham (2:1). It is impossible not to note the second figure of the team in the defense line, which conceded only seven times. Foden, Grilish, Mendy, Torres, De Bruyne and Delap, who has an ankle injury, will not be able to play today.
