Manchester City have just four games remaining in the Premier League and none of them will be easy.
Pep Guardiola has been eyeing a trip to the hostile Goodison Park with trepidation for weeks and Everton go into the game with renewed confidence after a shock 5-1 victory at Brighton in the week. City have little room for error.
The Blues lead Arsenal by a point in the title race and could stretch that to four as they face the Toffees directly before Mikel Arteta's side take to the field against Brighton themselves. The Gunners picked up an impressive win at Newcastle last week to keep their hopes alive but City can continue to keep the pressure high with a win.
ALSO READ: Guardiola may have to break unexpected Haaland streak at City
City are bound to be running on fumes, though, as they head to Merseyside off the back of a gruelling 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. With another physically and emotionally draining match to come against Los Blancos on Wednesday, some changes to the starting XI are expected.
It's looking unlikely that Nathan Ake will be among them. The defender has missed the last two games with an injury and although Guardiola says he is doing better, Sunday appears too early to make a return to action. "I think he's much better but I don't know," the Blues boss said. "We have training in a few hours and we will see."
Here's how MEN Sport writers believe City should line up for the match and you can select your own in the widget below.
Simon Bajkowski
With doubts over Nathan Ake's availability and Kyle Walker likely having to go up against Vinicius Jr again, it could mean John Stones returns to Goodison playing at right-back. Aymeric Laporte should come back in, although it will depend on fitness as to who takes a breather.
Again in midfield, it is a toss-up over which of Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne are rested for Madrid. I'd bring Bernardo into midfield for Gundogan, with Rodri behind them.
Erling Haaland is too important not to start, but this can be a chance for Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden to show what they can do ahead of Real. Guardiola wants his team to be more on the front foot for that game, and either of those could make an argument to be part of that.
Simon's team: Ederson, Stones, Akanji, Dias, Laporte, Rodri, Bernardo, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Foden, Haaland
Joe Bray
We don't know if Nathan Ake will be fit, so he probably shouldn't be risked. That should mean Manu Akanji continues at left-back, while I'd bring in Aymeric Laporte and Rico Lewis to ease the workload on Kyle Walker and John Stones. Rodri can also get a rest, with Ilkay Gundogan in midfield again, supported by Bernardo Silva and Julian Alvarez.
Pep Guardiola left Alvarez, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez on the bench in Madrid, so they can all come in and give Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne a rest, with the intention of substituting Erling Haaland if the game allows it.
The likes of De Bruyne, Rodri and Grealish may not get full 90 minutes with their feet up but can rotate with the other starters from Madrid to ensure everyone is in as fit a condition as possible for Wednesday.
Joe's team: Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Laporte, Akanji; Gundogan, Bernardo, Alvarez; Foden, Mahrez, Haaland.
Daniel Murphy
For all the warnings Pep Guardiola has rightly preached about heading to Goodison Park, the fact is even a highly-rotated City side should be able to dispatch lowly Everton. The first signs of fatigue began to show at the Etihad and it's vital changes are made to keep as many players as possible fresh ahead of the second leg on Wednesday.
Kevin De Bruyne 'plays when he's fit' so he will stay in the team as likely will Erling Haaland but it would be interesting to see Julian Alvarez given another go alongside them in the central attacking positions in place of Ilkay Gundogan.
Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez should both come in for Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva while Aymeric Laporte could get a run out as well.
Dan's team: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte; Stones, Rodri; Mahrez, Alvarez, De Bruyne, Foden; Haaland.
Choose your preferred XI using our tool below:
ALSO READ
