Manchester City are preparing to take on Everton in the Premier League on Boxing Day, with the aim of securing only their second victory since early November. The Cityzens experienced a disappointing defeat against Aston Villa last Saturday, which marked manager Pep Guardiola's ninth loss in the last 12 matches across all competitions. This alarming trend raises questions about the team's current form, particularly for a manager of Guardiola's stature.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Guardiola conveyed a rather bleak perspective on the team's prospects for improvement, emphasising the necessity of a full recovery of injured players to facilitate any turnaround. At present, City are missing key figures such as Ruben Dias and Rodri, while the availability of Ederson and John Stones for the upcoming clash remains uncertain.
Given the injury concerns, Guardiola may be compelled to implement a tactical reshuffle for the encounter against Everton, as reported by 90min. A potential lineup could look as follows:
**Goalkeeper: Stefan Ortega** - With Ederson unavailable, Ortega stepped in at Villa Park, demonstrating his capabilities with several impressive saves, despite the team's overall struggles.
**Centre-Back: Kyle Walker** - With Stones grappling with injuries and Dias sidelined for the foreseeable future, Guardiola may need to adjust his defensive strategy. Walker could be deployed in a sweeper role within a 3-2-4-1 formation during attacking phases.
**Centre-Back: Manuel Akanji** - Isolated at times against Villa, Akanji faced challenges due to a lack of support. While he may not possess the reliability of Dias, he still offers essential quality at the heart of the defence.
**Centre-Back: Nathan Ake** - Ake returned to the bench last weekend after recovering from injury. Given Josko Gvardiol's recent difficulties, Ake could be reinstated to the starting eleven against Everton.
**Defensive Midfielder: Rico Lewis** - Although Lewis's hybrid role has yielded mixed results lately, Guardiola continues to back the young midfielder. He is likely to adopt a defensive midfield position, transitioning to full-back when possession is lost.
**Defensive Midfielder: Mateo Kovacic** - While replacing Rodri is no easy task, Kovacic provides the most defensive stability available in the current midfield setup. His inclusion did not significantly alter the team's fortunes against Villa.
**Right Midfielder: Savinho** - After three games on the bench, Savinho's speed and direct approach could prove instrumental in breaching Everton's well-organised defence.
**Central Midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne** - Surprisingly benched during the Villa fixture, De Bruyne is a crucial asset for creativity. Guardiola cannot afford to rest him on Boxing Day as City seek to revitalise their season.
**Central Midfielder: Phil Foden** - Foden scored his first Premier League goal of the season late in the game against Villa. However, he is yet to recapture the peak form that characterised his previous campaigns.
**Left Midfielder: Jeremy Doku** - Doku's pace and tenacity on the wing could be vital for unlocking Everton's defence, particularly given the Toffees' recent clean sheets against formidable opponents like Arsenal and Chelsea.
**Striker: Erling Haaland** - The prolific Norwegian has found the net only once in his last six matches, a stark departure from his usual standards. He recorded just 18 touches and a single shot against Villa, highlighting the challenges City face in providing him with adequate service.
As Manchester City look to reverse their fortunes, all eyes will be on their performance against Everton this week. A strong showing could reinvigorate their season and restore confidence within the squad, setting the stage for a much-needed turnaround.