Real Madrid are keen on Spain midfielder Rodri, but any move is unlikely as the 28-year-old is settled at Manchester City and has no plans to leave the club. (Sport Bild - in German), external
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City boss Pep Guardiola talking to BBC Match of the Day: "It was massively important. We have three games at home and two away. They are tough games. Stefan Ortega saved the balls that he needed too and the players made a step up in the second half. We were more incisive. I'm really pleased with the game we made in the second half. The players performed really well, all of them."
On Nico O'Reilly: "He's not really a left-back. I would say all of our left-backs score, Josko Gvardiol before and now Nico. He is an attacking midfielder. We have passes, passes and passes and then we can arrive brilliantly into that position. He's arrived from the academy and is helping us a lot. I am more than grateful. He is taking his opportunity."
On whether O'Reilly has grown in confidence and mentally in the past few months: "For sure. He can improve, he is young. But when you play every day and you're playing it is because you can do it. Our fans love him because they love academy players. He is another player that can help us."
On whether the players are motivated: "We are fourth now. This week is massively important. Goodison Park, at home to Villa and then the FA Cup semi-final. To start winning the game and especially how we played in the second half is really important."
Image source, Getty ImagesIn what was his 199th Premier League game, Mateo Kovacic has scored in back-to-back appearances in the competition for the first time. He's now scored more goals in 2024-25 (6) than he had in all six of his previous campaigns in the competition combined (5).
Were you at the game or following elsewhere?
Have your say on Everton's performance
What did you make of Man City's display?
Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies
Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.
Brentford v Brighton
Crystal Palace v Bournemouth
Everton v Manchester City
West Ham v Southampton
Aston Villa v Newcastle (17:30 BST)
All kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated
I am at this game for BBC Radio 5 Live and am looking forward to it. It is so hard to call, because of where both teams are at.
Everton will work hard, of course, but they are also very capable of winning this if they are as "in your face" as they can be, and upset City's rhythm.
If Pep Guardiola's side play like they did against Nottingham Forest a few weeks ago, and don't really get going, then they are going to get turned over.
On the other hand, City really caught fire after almost going 3-0 down against Palace last week. If they play like that, they will win - but you are never quite sure what you are going to get from them in each half at the moment, let alone game to game.
So, it is hard to know how the game will pan out. Everton will not be overly expansive or bothered about possession and will pick their moments when they throw Abdoulaye Doucoure forward.
They will be direct and Beto will run in behind, and I definitely see them scoring, but I am still going with City to edge this, somehow. They have to, really, because they are under pressure to make the top five.
I held the record for the fastest goal scored at Goodison in its 133-year history until Doucoure scored after 10.18 seconds against Leicester in February, beating my effort for Blackburn after 12.94 seconds in 1995.
That's still the fastest goal scored there by an away player, though, so hopefully no-one manages a quicker one before the end of the season - especially when I am there to talk about it as co-commentator.
Sutton's prediction: 1-2
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesI thought it was worth asking Pep Guardiola about his thoughts on this week's Champions League games given Manchester City are usually involved in the quarter-final stage but this season, they have been out since the play-off round in February.
He said he watched the matches, which motivated him to get back into the competition next season.
But I suspect he was keeping an eye on last night's Europa League fare as well.
City are heading into a crucial week, with a trip to Everton and home game with Aston Villa pivotal to their chances of a top-five finish, followed by an FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest at Wembley.
It means they have a lot to play for, unlike Tottenham and Manchester United, who were in action last night.
"It is not a bad thing to fight to qualify for the Champions League," he said.
"We could be in a much lower position in the Premier League. We could be 11th, 12, 13, 14. No doubts about that."
United are 14th and Tottenham 15th.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Everton at Goodison park (15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Goalkeeper Ederson is "not ready for tomorrow" after being substituted in last weekend's comeback win over Crystal Palace, while Erling Haaland remains sidelined with an ankle injury with no date for his return.
Manuel Akanji and Phil Foden will be assessed on Friday: "They came back. Phil just on Thursday, and today with his second session since Old Trafford. And Manu, he made two or three sessions with us and I see him moving really well."
On John Stones and Nathan Ake's fitness: "Not yet [back]. They're getting better, but not yet."
On City's position in the Premier League: "I don't think it's a bad thing to be fighting to qualify for the Champions League. You could be in a much lower position in the Premier League if you had done fewer good things than we have done in these four, five months. It's in our hands and, of course, Goodison Park and Villa is massively important. We don't have much time."
He paid tribute to Goodison Park on City's final visit: "Goodison Park is so special, like all traditional stadiums in England. When you go to stadiums like these, you feel the atmosphere is special. But, clubs grow and I'm pretty sure their new stadium will be nicer in terms of being maybe more comfortable."
On David Moyes' impact at the Toffees: "Sean Dyche did an incredible job. I don't forget how Sean took over in that moment, a difficult position, and avoided relegation. But the impact of David, for his experience, an incredible job - at West Ham too, all his career. He's done an unbelievable job in terms of results - and the patterns are so clear, so difficult to handle."
Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of Everton v Man City at 15:00 on Saturday
Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez wants to sign Manchester's City striker Erling Haaland. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesKevin de Bruyne showed he can still control the outcome of games at the highest level by inspiring Manchester City's comeback against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
After the game he said it was the club's decision that he will leave at the end of the season, and he showed what they will miss when he is gone.
It must have been very difficult for Pep Guardiola to allow him to leave, but I think pushing to keep De Bruyne would have been a selfish move.
The Belgian still has the quality but can't now stay fit and provide performances at the levels of relentless consistency required to start regularly for Manchester City, who will demand to return to the top of English football as soon as possible.
Keeping him would be as a squad player, and if De Bruyne wants to stay it would surely to be as a starter. It feels like the hierarchy making clear they want to give him a new deal would be a selfish move rather than looking for the best solution for both him and the club.
Having a player of his quality as a squad player and helping to facilitate a rebuild is not what he will want at this stage of his career.
I would love to see De Bruyne stay in the Premier League and I really think he could, especially considering he has not ruled out staying in England in any interviews since announcing his departure.
He would just need to accept a lower wage and potentially reduced playing time.
Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward
Image source, Getty ImagesEverton are winless in their past 15 Premier League games against Manchester City (D3 L12) since a 4-0 victory in January 2017 under Ronald Koeman.
Kevin de Bruyne has had a hand in six goals in his past six Premier League starts (one goal, five assists).
Everton have drawn their past four home league matches, their longest such run since February 2015. They have never drawn five home league games in a row.
Tottenham will rebuff summer offers for Italy left-back Destiny Udogie, 22, despite links with several clubs, including Manchester City. (Florian Plettenberg), external
MLS club Chicago Fire have made an approach to sign outgoing midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, who will leave when his contract expires in the summerore transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City striker Erling Haaland appears to be making progress following an ankle injury suffered at the the end of last month.
The 24-year-old was substituted after the hour mark during the 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win over Bournemouth on 30 March.
The following day, boss Pep Guardiola said Haaland would be out of action "between five to seven weeks", meaning he could miss six matches.
On Wednesday, the Norwegian uploaded a video on his official Snapchat account jogging in the club's gym before saying to the camera with a smile, "getting there".
In a separate snap, Haaland uploaded a photo undergoing work with Mario Pafundi, with the player captioning the image saying "best physio".
In Haaland's absence, City have climbed into the top five of the Premier League and travel to Everton on Saturday (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Freddie Pye
Fan writer
Image source, PA MediaWith Kevin de Bruyne's exit at the end of the season now confirmed, Manchester City's anticipated squad rebuild is firmly under way.
But should the club be wary of just how many of their ageing or more experienced players they should be actively looking to release over the course of the coming months? The answer is a simple "yes".
The upcoming summer transfer window is widely believed to be the club's busiest since the second such market after Pep Guardiola's arrival at Etihad Stadium in 2016, when he looked to bring in the necessary number of players to execute his vision to perfection, having navigated a debut season with veterans post-Manuel Pellegrini.
A period of such transition is likely to be overseen once again this time around, but given City's position at the summit of European football in comparison to their status in 2017, the nature of the rebuild will likely need to be more meticulous in order to preserve their style of play and beliefs instilled over the past few seasons at the very highest level.
As part of that transition will need to be careful alterations in the market; bringing in new energy, talents for the future, ready-made superstars, but perhaps most importantly, retaining experience within the squad.
That brings us to Ilkay Gundogan; a player who knows Manchester City better than most and an experienced professional who certainly knows exactly what Guardiola wants from his side.
After a season of mixed performances from the returning 34-year-old, some were left disgruntled by the automatic extension of his contract by a further 12 months in recent weeks, confirmed by Guardiola on Sunday.
But it could be the experience of the German midfielder that smoothens out the transitional phase from one of the greatest footballing sides in the history of the game, into a new era looking to replicate and maintain some of that success into the next two seasons of Guardiola's contract.
Find more from Freddie Pye at City Xtra, external
Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City played with pace on Saturday and had the style of old with Kevin de Bruyne delivering a masterclass that rolled back the years.
He will be leaving at the end of the season as City rebuild, but it was impossible not to ask the question. What if he is able to produce this form regularly again, is he worth another year's contract?
He will have turned 34 at the start of the next campaign so it would be a risk. Then again Real Madrid have managed their veteran playmaker Luka Modric and he is on the cusp of his 40th birthday. Modric has been superb for them these past five years since he was De Bruyne's current age.
Having one world class veteran in the squad who you can turn to for something special isn't unheard of at the top level, as long as everyone else around him has the legs to cover him.
The problem is obviously that the Belgian has had too many injuries over the past few years for City to feel he is worth the risk, but remember young players get injured to. His contract would be huge but here's a thought, does it have to be?
De Bruyne will not be struggling for cash so an agreement that was largely based on games played or that he is physically available for, is not impossible.
He would make far less money than a lucrative deal in the middle east or the United States, but those options will still be there in a year's time. Mohamed Salah isn't chasing those dollars or riyals yet having signed on again at Liverpool.
Maybe, I am being a romantic, but those glimpses at the weekend made me wonder if it might work, but those hard-headed businessmen in the City boardroom might not see it that way.
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Manchester City will trigger a one-year contract extension for 34-year-old German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and keep him at the club until 2026. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Real Madrid will move for Manchester City and Norway striker Erling Haaland if their forward Vinicius Jr makes a rumoured move to Saudi Arabia. (Sky Sports), external
