Preview: Manchester City v Everton

After drawing last weekend, it’s imperative for City to get back to winning ways before worrying about the trip to Munich. To do that means overcoming our bogey side of recent years.

David Moyes has once again got Everton punching above their weight, though Wigan came close to a draw at Goodison last weekend whilst Blackburn really should have beaten the toffees earlier in the season. If we can keep Tim Cahill quiet then there’s a reasonable chance of a clean sheet.

It will be interesting to see whether Roberto Mancini elects to rotate from his first choice eleven with Tuesday’s game in mind. In goal, Joe Hart is sure to play in both games.

With Clichy looking sharper than Kolarov, it’s tempting to also play him in both. Zabaleta and Richards could play one each.

Everton are a physical side and can be direct, so Kompany and Lescott would be our strongest centre-back pairing. Kolo’s reading of the game might be of more use against Bayern.

With Milner making an appearance against Birmingham, he could come into the midfield and enable either Barry or Yaya to be saved for Munich. Starting Barry and Yaya in both games would be a gamble given how they fade when tired.

Hopefully Owen Hargreaves is able to make the bench, while the return of de Jong on Tuesday would be a huge boost.

In attack, Mancini has a host of options with only Adam Johnson missing due to an ankle injury. The work-rate of Tevez may be of greatest use if we’re under the cosh in Munich. Otherwise it’s to be hoped Mancini rotates the players to make sure everyone is at their peak.

Blue Days line-up:
Hart
Zabaleta – Kompany – Lescott – Clichy
Y Toure – Milner
Silva – Tevez – Balotelli
Dzeko

Prediction: 2-0 to City.