Manchester City will be looking to maintain their 100% start to the 2015-16 Premier League season when they travel to Everton on Sunday.
Everton go into the match at Goodison Park in decent form themselves, having taken four points from their opening two fixtures.
Everton
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Roberto Martinez will be pleased with the start that his Toffees side have made to the new campaign.
The Merseysiders opened the season with a 2-2 draw against newly-promoted Watford at Goodison Park. Martinez's men had to come from behind twice and earned a point thanks to a late goal from Arouna Kone.
Everton were handed a tricky away trip to Southampton last Saturday, but they were impressive as they eased their way to a 3-0 win.
Kone was involved again as he set up Romelu Lukaku's opener, before a second goal of the season for Ross Barkley and another for Lukaku set the seal on a fine afternoon on the South Coast.
The uncertainty surrounding John Stones's future has continued to rumble on this week, with stories emerging that Chelsea will bid up to £40m for the young defender.
Martinez, though, has since assured supporters that Stones has not attempted to force through a move to Stamford Bridge by submitting a transfer request, contrary to reports.
The Everton chief will be desperate to hold on to the highly-rated centre-back, although whether or not he remains at Goodison Park beyond the closure of the transfer window remains to be seen.
Recent form: DW
Manchester City
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City have been in imperious form so far, taking six points from a possible six to sit top of the table on goal difference.
Manuel Pellegrini's side began the season with a 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns, before following that up by beating Chelsea by the same scoreline last Sunday.
Chelsea were far from their best at the Etihad Stadium, but City made life difficult for them with a strong attacking display. Sergio Aguero bagged his first of the campaign, before second-half strikes from Vincent Kompany and Fernandino rounded off a comfortable win.
The win moved City five points ahead of the reigning champions, which even at this early stage of the campaign is a significant gap.
City have been busy strengthening in the transfer market this week, with Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi joining from Valencia on a five-year deal.
Kompany seems to have put last season's troubles behind him, with the City captain netting twice already this term. David Silva's form will also be of encouragement to Pellegrini, with the Spain international scoring once and contributing three assists so far this season.
Recent form: WW
Team News
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Everton will be without midfielder Darron Gibson with a thigh injury, while Leighton Baines remains sidelined due to ankle injury. With Luke Garbutt currently on loan at Fulham, Brendan Galloway is expected to feature at left-back.
John Stones, too, is also expected to play, despite the ongoing speculation linking him with Chelsea.
Martinez can call on a fully fit Kevin Mirallas again, after an ankle problem sustained against Watford restricted the Belgian to a place on the bench at Southampton last weekend. Tony Hibbert and Steven Pienaar are the only other long-term absentees.
Pellegrini has just one injury concern, with Pablo Zabaleta out for at least a month with an ankle injury.
The Chilean has this week confirmed that new signing Otamendi will not make his City bow at Goodison Park, with Eliaquim Mangala keeping his place alongside Kompany after his displays in the first two games of the season.
Gael Clichy returned from an ankle knock to make the bench against Chelsea and could feature this weekend, but midfielder Fernando is likely to miss out with a groin injury. Fabian Delph, meanwhile, remains a doubt with a hamstring problem.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Howard; Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Galloway; Barry, McCarthy; Mirallas, Barkley, Cleverley; Lukaku
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Mangala, Kolarov; Yaya Toure, Fernandinho; Navas, Silva, Sterling; Aguero
Head To Head
The teams have identical records in this fixture. Out of their 176 meetings, Everton have won 66, City 66 and there have been 44 draws.
Everton have a good recent record against City at Goodison Park. The Toffees have lost just one of the last six meetings there and two of the last 17. The most recent clash on Merseyside ended in a 1-1 draw back in January, with Steven Naismith's goal cancelling out Fernandinho's strike.
There has not been a goalless draw between the sides in the past 23 meetings, with the last stalemate coming at Goodison in December 2003.
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Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:
We say: Everton 1-2 Manchester City
Everton have the better record over City at home, but Pellegrini's men are in fine fettle and will feel confident of making it three wins from three.
City will know that Everton will make it tough for them, especially if they reproduce the form that earned them the win at Southampton last time out, but the Sky Blues should have enough to come out on top here.
Steven Toplis
