Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

Everton are out for their warm-up but they are just practicing Dwight McNeill's and James Garner's free-kicks and corners into the box, with the other outfield players working on blocking the keeper.

Not really - they are actually doing a passing drill near the halfway line, as per the pic - but, if Everton are to get any joy today, their set-pieces will surely play a part.

They got both their goals against Tottenham last week from that route and only Arsenal (with 14) have scored more league goals that way than the 13 that Sean Dyche's men have managed in 2023-24.

Nottingham Forest will be without Gonzalo Montiel, who sustained a hamstring problem against Bristol City in midweek.

Morgan Gibbs-White felt discomfort during that game and will be assessed, while Chris Wood is still injured.

Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak will both miss out for Newcastle United but Callum Wilson is ready to return to the starting line-up.

Bruno Guimaraes is one booking away from triggering a two-match suspension.

Nigel Reo-Coker
Former West Ham midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

Image source, Getty Images

For me Man City are going to win the title.

To keep the desire alive sometimes it takes young players to come in, special young players, to come in and re-ignite the fire in the older players to go again and win things. City have Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb, Micah Hamilton all coming through, special talents, and they are going to want to play and show the world what they can do.

That is an extra factor to Man City that for me makes them even more the favourites to win the title.

The squad also has the experience to go all the way, they have been in this position plenty of times before. That gives them the upper hand on their rivals.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has gone four successive league appearances without a goal.

It's the first time he has since a five-match streak for Borussia Dortmund between March and April 2022.

City have scored 39 times in all competitions since his last goal, which came in a 3-2 win against RB Leipzig on 28 November.

He'll probably score today now!

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

How it started...

Image source, Getty Images

vs how it's going...

Image source, Getty Images

Dyche's record in all competitions at Eihad Stadium as manager of Burnley and, now, Everton reads:

P9 W0 D1 L8 F4 A33 (including four 5-0 defeats in a row between 2018 and 2020)

Can he do any better here today? Maybe a different view will help - he gets to watch from the stands this time, because he is banned from the dugout after picking up his third booking of the season during last week's draw with Tottenham.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City's task is clear.

They can go top of the table with victory over Everton, leapfrogging Liverpool by a point, for at least a few hours until the Reds play later this afternoon.

City will be confident because they are unbeaten in 21 league games at Etihad Stadium (W17, D4).

They are undefeated in 23 Premier League games against sides in the relegation zone too - since losing 3-2 at Norwich in September 2019.

However, the reigning champions only kept one clean sheet in their previous 12 league games...

Wolves have Boubacar Traore and Hwang Hee-chan available for the first time in 2024 after returning from international duty.

It means head coach Gary O'Neil has a fully-fit squad at his disposal.

Brentford's Saman Ghoddos is back from the Asian Cup and should be involved but Josh Dasilva is ruled out with knee ligament damage.

Frank Onyeka and Yoane Wissa are still competing at the Africa Cup of Nations for Nigeria and DR Congo respectively.

Ian Kennedy
Reporter, BBC Radio Merseyside Sport

The free week Everton are having without a game will be welcome given the injury concerns Sean Dyche has had to deal with and he will be keen to check on the progress of players such as Amadou Onana and Abdoulaye Doucoure.

One major plus from Saturday's draw against Tottenham was the performance of Idrissa Gana Gueye, back from international duty and bolstering midfield at a time when one or two were injured.

The other plus was the resilience shown to keep going and get a late equaliser. Great too to see Jarrad Branthwaite's excellent form rewarded with a goal. He is established as a regular starter and has a great future ahead of him.

That resilience will again be needed against a Manchester City side who are closing in on Liverpool at the top of the table. Despite conceding two last week, Everton's defensive record has been strong of late, which is something positive to take into such a big challenge at the Etihad Stadium.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

If Manchester City do get back to the top of the Premier League table today, it will be the for the first time since 24 November - 77 days ago, when they had played 12 games.

They’ve still already spent more days at the summit than anyone else this season... although that didn’t help Arsenal much last season, did it?

The Gunners were top for 284 days in 2022-23 but they have not led from the front too often this time. Newcastle, Brighton and West Ham all hit the top in August and early September by the way.

Team/days on top (out of a total of 160 days):

1. Man City 64

2. Liverpool 54

3. Tottenham 26

4. Arsenal 23

=5. Brighton and Hove Albion 7

=5. Newcastle United 7

7. West Ham United 2

Image source, Getty Images

Everton head to Etihad Stadium in the relegation zone, a point below 17th-placed Luton Town.

They have failed to win their last six league matches, drawing each of the past three - though two of those came against Villa and Spurs.

Their last Premier League victory came at Burnley on the 16 December so they are still seeking their first league win of 2024.

Sean Dyche's side also lost to Manchester City in their last meeting on 27 December despite Jack Harrison putting Everton ahead.

Everton's weapon is their set-pieces. They have scored a league-high 50% of their goals (13) this season from those situations.

But in Dominic Calvert-Lewin, they have a striker who has failed to score in each of his past 17 appearances in all competitions.

Image source, .

Manchester City are going to take some stopping now, but they do need Erling Haaland to find his shooting boots.

Everything is going to click for him again soon, though, it is just a question of when.

We know what the Everton approach will be, which is to try to hang on in there and counter-attack, and try to threaten from set-pieces like they did against Tottenham last week.

I know from having Kyle Walker in my Fantasy Football team that City seem to concede every week - they have only kept one clean sheet in the league since the end of September - but I reckon it will be a different story on Saturday. City should win comfortably.

Everton are still in the bottom three and need to pick up some points soon but that is something that is far more likely in their next three games - against Crystal Palace, Brighton and West Ham - than in this one.

Prediction: 3-0

Manchester City are unbeaten in 13 Premier League matches against Everton since losing 4-0 at Goodison Park in January 2017 (W11, D2).

Everton won four consecutive league games at Etihad Stadium between 2008 and 2010 but have not won in their last 12 league visits.

Phil Foden has netted four times in eight Premier League games against Everton.

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham welcome Son Heung-min and Yves Bissouma back to the squad following their return from international duty.

Midfielder Giovani Lo Celso is back in training following a thigh injury.

Brighton will be without striker Joao Pedro because of a hamstring problem.

They have Kaoru Mitoma available again following his Asian Cup campaign but are without Simon Adingra, who will be involved in the Africa Cup of Nations final for Ivory Coast.

Fara Williams
Former England midfielder on BBC Football Daily podcast

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It has been difficult for Phil Foden at Man City, because he has not had a position that he has been able to settle in. He has played off the left, played off the right, centrally, and he is trying to find the best position to suit him.

He's been fortunate this season that Kevin de Bruyne has been absent so he has been able to get a good run of games in the Man City team in his preferred position. He has matured a lot as a player, so he is probably at a better level to be able to sustain that consistency in terms of his performances.

The problem is now that as everyone is coming back to fitness, where does he fit in? His form will encourage Pep Guardiola to continue to play him but there is so much quality in that squad.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton boss Sean Dyche says managers should be given more leeway for their behaviour on the touchline because of the amount of emotion during a game.

He was booked by referee Michael Oliver after protesting against what he called "really bad decisions".

"I think there should be a bit more tolerance," Dyche said.

"The fourth official is there and if deep down they are thinking the referee might have that one wrong, I don't see why you are booked for it.

"That's the moment when they should use a bit of their game understanding and say 'OK, he maybe got that one wrong but we need you to stay in the technical area'.

"I think that can be a calming down moment."

Image source, Getty Images

Sean Dyche will take charge of his 300th Premier League game as a manager today but won't be on the touchline.

He serves a one-game ban, having accumulated three yellow cards this season.

Dyche will become the 18th manager to take charge of 300 Premier League matches.

He has only won one of his 19 games as a manager against Manchester City in all competitions (D2, L16).

That was Burnley's 1-0 victory at Turf Moor in March 2015.