As the English Premier League keeps barreling on towards the chaos of the league’s holiday period and the halfway point of the season, only one team is within ten points of league-leading Chelsea. That’s Manchester City, last season’s champions and winners of four straight matches in all competitions; if they can make it five, they could have a chance to cut Chelsea’s six-point lead atop the table.
Manchester City vs Everton live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch the EPL online
Defending EPL champions Manchester City have won four straight and are looking to make it five against an Everton side trying to regain the promise they showed a year ago.
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Everton will be looking to do what they can to keep City from making up any ground, though Roberto Martinez’ side will need to find an upswing in this season’s woefully inconsistent form. Despite strengthening the squad over the summer, Everton have slipped in to the bottom half of the table instead of rising in to Champions League places as planned. If they can sneak a win today, though, Everton stand to rise as high as 8th in the table if other results go their way; with how tight-packed that area of the EPL is right now, a win could help kick-start a rapid rise up the table for the blue side of Liverpool.
Key player - Sergio Agüero (Manchester City)
Any match that involves Manchester City has to have Agüero noted. Kun is the EPL’s leading scorer and a threat to wreak havoc any time he touches the ball. Pace, skill, passing, finishing, the ability to do everything himself, Agüero has it all. Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin will have their hands full trying to keep him from winning the match on his own... and of course, Agüero is far from City’s only attacking threat.
Key Matchup - Jesus Navas (Manchester City) vs. Leighton Baines (Everton)
Baines will have his hands full with the pace and direct threat of Navas, who uses that skillset to pull attention out wide and keep defenses from over-focusing on City’s more central attacking threats. Baines has the ability to deal with Navas one-on-one, and if he can do so it will help Everton to more easily defend other threats. Of course, this matchup isn’t one way; Baines is arguably Everton’s best creator from open play, and Navas is going to have his work cut out for him when Everton are in possession to keep him at bay.
Manchester City injuries and suspensions
Out: Vincent Kompany (hamstring), David Silva (knee), Matija Nastasic (thigh) In doubt: Stevan Jovetic (knock), Edin Dzeko (calf), Aleksandar Kolarov (calf)
Everton injuries and suspensions
Out: James McCarthy (hamstring), Steven Naismith (hamstring), Darren Gibson (knee), John Stones (ankle) In doubt: Antolin Alcaraz (shoulder), Bryan Oviedo (leg)
This is actually a fairly interesting set of injured players in its own way. While on the surface you’d think that each team would be much worse off without them, but both sides have been able to get by thanks to smart squad utilization from their managers. If these two teams can get healthy, they could become much more dangerous; in City’s case, that could let them make a huge statement.
Match Date/Time: Saturday, 5:30 P.M. local, 12:30 P.M. ET
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
TV: NBC (U.S. - English), Sky Sports 1/HD (U.K.)
Online: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.), Sky GO (U.K.)
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