Manchester City could be without three key players ahead of Everton clash
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Manchester City will definitely be without Kevin De Bruyne and could be without Jack Grealish and Phil Foden against Everton.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Spaniard revealed City’s team news, and De Bruyne will definitely miss the match, while Grealish is unlikely to play and Foden is a doubt [Liverpool Echo].
This could be good news for the Toffees as though all three aren’t guaranteed starters; they are certainly talented individuals.
Guardiola said: “We have Jack getting better after he went to the national team.
“Phil Foden came back with a knock and a problem in his leg, but he is getting better.
“And unfortunately, Kevin got a positive Covid test in Belgium and needs ten days. Jack, I don’t think so [will be available]. Phil, we will see.”
Potential boost for the Toffees.
Now, City have plenty of options, and the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Bernardo Silva, Ferran Torres, and Riyad Mahrez are all capable of causing carnage on their day.
So, even if all three miss out, that doesn’t mean that the Toffees won’t have anything to worry about because they will.
However, if Foden, De Bruyne, and Grealish can’t play, then things are looking better for the Toffees.
Everton have injury problems of their own and are going to be without several key players once again, but you would hope that Rafael Benitez can still form a team capable of taking something from the Etihad.
Given the run of form they are on, they could have done without this match, but perhaps this injury news will provide the Toffees with a much-needed boost going into the game.
Everton’s season isn’t going to be defined by games like this, but that doesn’t mean they can just write them off, so hopefully, they get something.
In other Everton news, here is our tactical preview of the City game on Sunday.
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