Manchester City face Everton at the Etihad in a crucial Premier League clash. Get the latest team news, predicted lineups, stats, and match preview before kickoff.
Manchester City will aim to climb to the top of the Premier League table when they take on Everton at the Etihad Stadium this Saturday. Pep Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in their last seven games across all competitions and look to continue their fine run after a narrow 1-0 win at Brentford before the international break.
Erling Haaland once again headlines the story for City. The Norwegian striker is in unstoppable form, scoring 21 goals in just 12 matches for club and country this season. With nine Premier League goals already, Haaland remains the frontrunner for the Golden Boot. Manager Pep Guardiola recently celebrated his 250th Premier League victory — a record-breaking milestone — and believes his side are improving week by week.
Statistically, Manchester City have been dominant throughout 2025. They’ve averaged more points per game than any other Premier League side this calendar year, while also scoring the most goals and sharing the most wins with Liverpool. Historically, they’ve been a nightmare for Everton — unbeaten in their last 16 league meetings since 2017.
Everton, however, arrive in good spirits. David Moyes’s men have shown renewed belief this season, sitting eighth in the table and just two points behind City. Before the break, they pulled off an impressive 2-1 comeback win against Crystal Palace, with on-loan City winger Jack Grealish scoring his first goal for the Toffees in stoppage time. The win extended their unbeaten home record at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium and ended Palace’s 19-match unbeaten run.
Moyes has quietly built momentum. Everton have won six of their last ten Premier League games — matching the number of wins they had in their previous 27. Their away form has also improved, winning four of their last seven league trips, though their record at the Etihad remains poor. They haven’t won away to City in 14 visits, dating back to December 2010.
Team selection will play a huge role this weekend. Manchester City are still without key midfielder Rodri due to a hamstring injury, while defender Abdukodir Khusanov remains doubtful. On the positive side, Mateo Kovacic is back after Achilles surgery, and Rayan Aït-Nouri has returned to training. Jeremy Doku could reclaim his spot on the left wing, and Haaland will lead the line as always.
For Everton, the big news is that Grealish cannot face his parent club due to loan regulations. Nathan Patterson’s fitness is uncertain, and defenders Michael Keane and Jarrad Branthwaite face late fitness tests. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall returns from suspension and will likely support striker Beto, with Iliman Ndiaye shifting to the left wing.
City’s possible lineup includes Donnarumma, Dias, Gvardiol, Nunes, Foden, Doku, and Haaland spearheading the attack. Everton could field Pickford in goal, with Tarkowski and O’Brien at the back, Gueye and Garner anchoring midfield, and Beto leading the attack.
Manchester City are heavy favorites, especially at home, but Everton’s resurgence under Moyes cannot be underestimated. They have developed resilience and tactical discipline, though their record against top-three teams remains worrying.
Expect City to dominate possession and create chances early, with Haaland and Doku posing constant threats. Everton’s best hope will be to stay compact, counter quickly, and rely on Pickford’s reflexes.
If City win, they could move top of the Premier League, applying pressure on Liverpool and Arsenal. For Everton, even a point at the Etihad would mark another big step forward in what has been a promising start to the season.