After three losses in their last four league games, Everton need to kickstart their season, starting with a big performance against Manchester City on Saturday evening.
The champions are probably the last team the Blues would want to face whilst trying to get out of a rut, but Marco Silva needs a massive win to start swaying some disgruntled fans back on his side.
The Toffees’ recent record against City doesn’t make for good reading, Everton have only came out on top in one of the last eight meetings, whereas the Citizens have won on four occasions, including their last two trips to Goodison.
Considering the incredibly high standard Pep Guardiola has set over the last two years, the fact his side have already dropped four points comes as a disappointment. They will be desperate to catch Liverpool sooner rather than later.
Since the start of the 2017/18 season City have accumulated a mind blowing 211 points.
In three outings since their 3-2 loss to Norwich, Man City have netted 14 times without reply, including the 8-0 thrashing of Watford last week.
So it will take something special for Everton to contain this weekend’s visitors, but the Canaries proved they are beatable, especially without first choice centre half, Aymeric Laporte.
Both sides come into the clash on the back of away wins against Championship opposition in the Carabao Cup, two potential banana skins in Preston and Sheffield Wednesday respectively, but two professional jobs nonetheless.
One to watch
City are blessed with world class talent throughout their squad, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva will all cause Everton problems but after a hat-trick last week, Bernardo Silva will be the one to watch.
The Portuguese midfielder has proved in the last 12 months he is one of the best around, the 25-year-old can score goals, create chance and run all day long and will definitely need special treatment if selected on Saturday.
Team news
Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Andre Gomes and Jonas Lossl are unavailable for the hosts.
The visitors are having an early-season crisis at the back, with Nicolas Otamendi the only senior central defender who is fit.
Fernandinho could fill in there or Pep could call upon his youngsters, 18-year-old Eric Garcia and 17-year-old Taylor Harwood-Bellis both completed the full 90 at Deepdale on Tuesday.
Man in the middle
Lee Mason will referee back-to-back Manchester City clashes after he took charge of their 3-0 win against Preston, this will also be his second Everton game of the season after he officiated the Blues’ 1-0 win over Watford.
In four games this campaign he has shown 10 yellow cards and one red.