Manchester City are on a heck of a roll early in the season, with two 3-0 wins in their first two matches. While their opener against West Brom was pretty much business as expected, they also laid a beating on Chelsea just a week ago, and that dominating performance is leading many to think that the Citizens are going to be a true force to be reckoned with in the Premier League title race this season.
Everton vs. Manchester City 2015: Time, TV schedule and live stream
Manchester City are rolling, but Everton are capable of knocking them off their pedestal.
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Everton aren’t going to just roll over and meekly hand City another 3-0 win, though. This is a team with nothing but heart and fight in them, and they will go wire to wire doing everything they can to knock City off balance. With Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley in fine form in the early going of this season, City’s defense is going to get a stern test. Now we just have to see if Everton’s fight is enough to deny Manchester City a win for the first time this season.
New player to watch -- Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Sterling hasn’t seemed to quite be up to full speed yet for City, and Everton are a team he had mixed results against when he was with Liverpool. Still, this seems like it would be a good match for him to get rolling, and if he can put on an impressive performance today, it’d go a long ways towards earning three points. If he doesn’t, though, it’s going to make City’s attack much easier to contain for Everton. In a very real way, Raheem Sterling might be the most important player on the pitch for Manchester City.
Upset potential -- Can Everton stem the tide?
The chances seem low at first blush. This is the Manchester City side that just humbled Chelsea to the tune of a 3-0 win a week ago, after all. But this is a very good Everton side that they’re facing, one that’s perhaps not getting the justice and attention they deserve. They’ve got the talent in a few key spots to give City trouble, and with the extra incentive of playing on home soil, they’re going to give Manuel Pellegrini’s team all they can handle. They might not win, but it shouldn’t be as shocking if it happens as many will think it is.
Everton injuries and suspensions
Out: Leighton Banes (ankle), Tony Hibbert (knee), Darron Gibson (ankle), Steven Pienaar (hamstring) In doubt: none
Manchester City injuries and suspensions
Out: Pablo Zabaleta (knee) In doubt: none
Everton are a little battered right now, but most of their losses are actually decently covered by depth for a change. Of course, replacing Baines will be a tough task, especially as Bryan Oviedo hasn’t looked quite back up to speed after his own injury problems last season.
Match Date/Time: Sunday, 11 a.m. ET, 4 p.m. local
Venue: Stadium, city, country
TV: NBCSN (U.S. - English), Telemundo (U.S. - Spanish), Sportsnet World (Canada), Sky Sports 1/HD (U.K.)
Online: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S. - English), NBC Deportes En Vivo Extra (U.S. - Spanish), Sportsnet World Now (Canada), Sky Go (U.K.)
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