Manchester City will have to come from behind if they're to book their place in the Capital One Cup final on Wednesday. Manuel Pellegrini's side suffered a 2-1 defeat at Goodison Park in the first leg earlier this month, with Romelu Lukaku netting a late winner two minutes after Jesús Navas had cancelled out Ramiro Funes Mori's first-half opener. However, given that they've got an away goal in the bag, their task is a little easier than it may first seem.
Manchester City vs. Everton 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch Capital One Cup online
Manchester City will look to overturn a first leg defeat to Everton in Wednesday’s Capital One Cup semifinal.
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There's also the fact that Everton have been particularly unimpressive in general over the last few months. Defeat to Swansea City in the Premier League on the weekend ensured they remain in the bottom half of the table, with the startling statistic that they've won only 11 of their last 50 league games suggesting an alarming dip in performance. Getting a result here could prove a much-needed confidence boost for a side that will achieve little more than mid-table mediocrity this season.
Key player: Sergio Agüero (Manchester City)
If Everton -- who are a notoriously leaky unit -- want to have any chance of keeping a clean sheet, they'll have to hope City striker Sergio Agüero has an off day. The Argentine international is has scored 12 goals despite making only 15 Premier League starts this season, and is almost certainly the very best striker in England. His strength and dribbling makes him nigh-on impossible to stop, so defenders John Stones and Phil Jagielka will need all the luck they can get.
Key matchup: Romelu Lukaku vs. City’s defence
If there has been one good story in Everton's rather underwhelming season so far, it's the performances of striker Romelu Lukaku. The former Chelsea man is undoubtedly delivering on his promise, having found the back of the net 15 times in 23 league games. He's also been a vital factor in their Capital One Cup run, where he's scored four in five. Tall, powerful and an outstanding finisher, he'll be confident of getting a chance or two against City's makeshift defence.
Manchester City injuries and suspensions
Out: Samir Nasri (thigh); Vincent Kompany, Wilfried Bony, Aleksandar Kolarov (calf). In doubt: Eliaquim Mangala (hamstring).
Everton injuries and suspensions
Out: James McCarthy (groin); Tony Hibbert, Tyias Browning (knee). In doubt: Muhamed Bešić (hamstring); Kevin Mirallas (unspecified).
For City, long-term absentees Nasri and Kompany are still unavailable, and are joined on the sidelines by Bony and Kolarov. Pellegrini will, however, be hoping to have centre-back Mangala back available to ease his side’s current defensive crisis.
Everton will still be short of backup players Hibbert and Browning, as well as midfielder McCarthy. More of an immediate concern for coach Roberto Martínez are the injuries sustained by Bešic and Mirallas in the weekend’s defeat to Swansea City: they’re both likely to be sidelined here.
Match date/time: Wed., 2:45 p.m. ET, 7:45 p.m. local
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
TV: beIN Sports (US and Canada); Sky Sports 1/HD (UK)
Online: beIN Sports Connect (US and Canada); fuboTV (US); Sky Go (UK)
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