Premier League winners Manchester City host Merseyside club Everton in the final game of the season. In a tie of no importance to Man City, while Everton will be looking to get the maximum points from it. A win and favourable results elsewhere would see the Toffees go to 7th place and could qualify for a place in next season’s UEFA Conference League.
Man City fielded a strong team last time out when they played Brighton and lost away from home. However, a red card inside the first ten minutes meant their task was more difficult. They still managed to take a 2-goal lead, after which Brighton made a shock comeback to win 3-2 and stun the champions. In a dead rubber against Everton and a maiden Champions League final just a week away, Pep Guardiola will be ringing in the changes to his squad and will no doubt play a much weaker team. The Citizens have lost 2 of their last 3 games, and Everton will look to take full advantage of their form and a possibly weak team selection.
Everton need to win against City and need Tottenham to lose or draw against Leicester City to qualify for the UEFA Conference League. The Toffees have no chance of qualifying for the Europa League next season thanks to their poor goal difference. However, if they fail to win against City and 9th placed Arsenal were to beat Brighton, it could see the Gunners qualify for the Conference League instead. It will no doubt be an exciting day in the race for the European spots, with Liverpool, Chelsea, Leicester and West Ham also in the run for other UEFA competitions.
They won against Wolves at home last time out, however, they have a poor record against Man City having lost the last six games against them. Manager Carlo Ancelotti will need his team to be on top form on Sunday and hope for other results to go his way.
TEAM NEWS:
Manchester City could welcome back Sergio Aguero for his last home game for the City, after confirming earlier that he will be leaving Man City at the end of the season. However, he is a major doubt and has missed the last two games with an injury. Kyle Walker is set to return to the squad with fellow Englishman Raheem Sterling also returning from an injury. Both will be hoping to play some part against Everton. Fullback Joao Cancelo is suspended after picking up a red card against Brighton. Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is also a doubt against Everton.
Everton captain Seamus Coleman is set to be sidelined after he picked up a knock against Wolves in the midweek. Star midfielder James Rodriguez is also set to miss out on the trip to the Etihad. Jean Phillip-Gbamin is the only other player to be ruled out, with the rest of the squad available for selection.
PREDICTED LINEUPS:
MANCHESTER CITY PREDICTED XI vs EVERTON: Zack Steffen; Kyle Walker, Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake, Benjamin Mendy; Ilkay Gundogan, Fernandinho, Bernardo Silva; Ferran Torres, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling.
EVERTON PREDICTED XI vs MANCHESTER CITY: Jordan Pickford; Ben Godfrey, Yerry Mina, Michael Keane, Lucas Digne; Tom Davies, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Allan, Gylfi Sigurdsson; Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
