Stuart Pearce is expected to name an unchanged line-up as Manchester City look to record only their second away win since September against Everton at Goodison Park.
City suffered no fresh injury worries during Wednesday's victory over Newcastle and with Andy Cole and Darius Vassell both getting on the scoresheet, '6million new boy Georgios Samaras is again likely to find himself on the bench.
Danny Mills (shin) and Claudio Reyna (ankle) are two and three weeks away from a return respectively, while Nedum Onuoha has been ruled out for the season with knee ligament damage.
The match tomorrow will be the next test of Joey Barton's popularity following his transfer request, and Sylvain Distin has called on fans not to boo the player as happened at the start of the mid-week match against Newcastle. .
Although their form on home soil has been decent over the last few months, City have been poor on the road, picking up just four points from their last eight away games, a run which stretches back to their previous meeting with Newcastle at the end of September.
It is a record Pearce knows must improve if City are to stand any chance of forcing their way into the top six and with only six home games remaining, he is counting on away points to see the Blues climb up the table.
"If we are to match our aspirations, we have to win all our home games and pick up whatever we can on the road," said Pearce.
"That is the only thing that will drive us up the league.
"We have done reasonably well this season but we have to keep beating those sides who are below us, and just around us in the table."
Squad: James, Weaver, Sun Jihai, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Richards, Sinclair, Barton, Musampa, Ireland, Croft, Riera, Cole, Vassell, Samaras, Wright-Phillips.
Last season: Everton 2 City 1
Key opponent: Tim Cahill: When he's on song, Everton are on song, and has a habit of arriving late into the box to score.
Our prediction: Everton 1 City 1
What should be the line-up and what will be the result? Have your say
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The next two games at Everton and Charlton will determine in my opinion whether we qualify for Europe or not, 4-6 points is essential. We need to ensure we are not leap frogged by these teams if we are to qualify. Typical dogfight from two teams battling for Europe is my prediction with City winning 1-0, Samara scoring late on!
Stuart Pearce has to keep his players focused on football just like he did in the game versus Newcastle, but I expect this game versus Everton to be a tougher game.
CITY can still win this one.
Come on you BLUES!
Same team as on Wednesday. The Toffees are going to be a much tougher proposition than Newcastle so we're going to need perfomances of real intensity. Sky are predicting a 2-1 win for us and I'd go along with that as long as Dunne and Distin stay sharp adnd I reckon Sinclair and Riera are going to be key to our attack. If things aren't going too well then it will be interesting to see if Samaras can deliver some strength and power in the box. Come on City! 2-1
Sun's not good enough away from home so I expect problems at the back (again).
Our second away win sinch september eh? So the 5-2 win away at charlton in december counts for nothing then I take it?
Cahill really is the danger man and he's scored against us on a number of occasions before. We can't afford for Distin or Dunne to go to sleep and let him ghost into the box and score a header. I reckon the biggest factor to concentrate in a game against Everton is to not concede because once 1-0 down, it is very hard to break them down.
We are due a score draw 1-1 I would say. Unchanged line up should keep Cole & Vass on their toes.
Same as the other night... D'oh!!
You're as strong as your weakest link. SP, please play Musampa again, it was refreshing to see someone in midfield who could make a decent pass consistently and hold the ball. Admitedly he could put in a few more tackles here and there. But after observing City since Musampa has joined, we play a lot more solid when he's in the line up. Yes we had 2 horrific games when he played (Fulham/Livepool) but fans and the manager were quick to point their finger on him because he wasn't seen throwing himself at every ball. Ironically when we were convincingly beaten by Tottenham amongst many poor performances of recent, no one knew where to point their finger anymore including the manager. Watching City play without Musampa is similar to playing football with your mates in the park, you always have one or two who can't pass the ball properly and you find yourself running back to defence just as you were ready to make a run forwards. This is what it has been like to watch City in the last 8 games, no ability to hold the ball and clearly no ability to pass the ball making attacking impossible and tiring the team.....you are as strong as your weakest link and Musampa is not our weakest midfielder, thats for sure. I do like Riera though, and hope Musampa can settle in a central role.
City to win 2-1, complete the double. Lawro has predicted an Everton win, so that's it then. He is always wrong and seldom picks City for anything.
No need to change the line up.Let's hope we can string 2 decent results together and not follow a good performance with a terrible one (see Bolton and WBA) , complacency is a terrible thing in Football and City tend to be guilty of this more than most.We could still , potentially finish top 5 if we can put an unbeaten run together , we all know the talent is there , what about the attitude ?
I would like to see Samaras play a bigger role this time. Everton may take the aggressive approach that has worked recently, and which has done for City a few times. I can see Cole and Vassell being isolated again, even though there is now good width with Sinclair and Riera. So I think Samaras needs to come into play and use his height and heading ability to worry Everton. Plus they actually wanted to sign the lad, so they should be doubly concerned at having to face him. Apart from that, things are looking good. Please no repeat of the lifeless struggle against Bolton.
musampa in the central role again, as i want him to sign a contract with city.come on city.CTID
Everton are clawing their way back up the table so it aint gonna be pretty.But c'mon guys this is the type of game that really could make the season.We have to get something out of this game.Samaras to score 1-1.
yes, Lawrenson does predict an Everton win. But what he also says is that "City are too nice" - presumably meaning we lack a bit of nasty bite (as in say Blackburn). Is this really true? And will Samaras make us bite more?
steve
Same lineup as Wed with the same result I hope. Though I'd like to see BWP partnering Samaras up front after our starting strikers have assisted each others' goals. Not sure whether I'd rather see Micah or Ireland though. If we're up by enough to get some kids in at the end then I don't think I'll care who they are. Do the business, boys, 2-0!
It's important to believe we can win. Everton are no great shakes, and though we haven't won at Goodison since 1992, I can see us winning this one. I remember us leading them 2-1 with seconds left at Goodison in January 2003, and then Radzinski scored when Dunne and Peter Schmeichel made a mess of a long ball - I was sick! We never seem to get much luck there, but maybe that will change tomorrow? I hope so! CTID
Have Everton improved since early season? They were rubbish. Scored fewer than we did, and our attack was miserable for a while. I hope we keep up or scoring ways of late.
Good luck for the game. I hope SP is given support to continue the development of the club. Too many have worked too hard throughout the ranks for things to fall apart by lack of discipline. Speaking out of turn to the press in many occupations is a sackable offence, why are contracts so one-sided in football (amongst the players). I bet other employees in the dont have have the same latitude.
I still think action should be taken against Barton and now Distin = it is not their club they are hired help - who are part of ensuring that 12% of gatemoney goes straight out of the game. Next time a player needs to attend anger managerment, how to spent a million, or additional fitness courses maybe the agent should be funding it. Stop clubs paying private medical insurance for players and families, players can afford it ot join the queue like most others.
I bet, no matter how much Barton gets paid he will have very little in five years after he stops playing like many others.
Long live E-Bay.
ps Can his agent arrange lessons for freekick situations.
Watch out a resurgent Everton.
Musampa should be given a run in the centre.With Riera on the left there would be a good amount of skill and strength.
James. Jordan, Distin, Dunne, Sun. Riera, Musampa, 'him', Sinclair. Vassell & Cole. Subs: As long as we HAVE a goalie on the bench, I'm not bothered who, Sommeil, Ireland, BWP & Samaras. NO SIBS...PLEASE!