Man City v Everton

By Steve Wilson
BBC Match of the Day commentator

TEAM NEWS

Manchester City will restore the first-team players rested for the midweek win over Birmingham.

Owen Hargreaves, who played 57 minutes on his debut appearance, will not feature as he is eased back following three years out injured.

Louis Saha was again left out of the match-day squad for the Carling Cup tie against West Brom and his future at Goodison Park looks uncertain.

Victor Anichebe is the only player on the Toffees’ injury list.

MATCH PREVIEW

In days of olde, King John’s rich noblemen used to ride through Sherwood Forest petrified that they would be robbed and humbled by a shadowy figure clad in green – the champion of the poor – none other than Robin Hood.

These days, football’s moneyed elite tread with equal trepidation as they fear a good old gubbing from those infamous merry men dressed in blue – Everton!

There’s nothing proud Evertonians would love more than to rob the rich and leaving them squealing like Maid Marian.

Not only do Everton have a better recent record than any other Premier League club against money-bags Chelsea – they are also well accustomed to stuffing mega-bucks Manchester City, who should be wary going into Saturday’s early (Free £25 bet offer) Kick-off.

So, test your football knowledge with these six brain teasers – answers below!

Q1: Who was the last team to score a home win against Manchester City?

Q2: Who was the last team to score an away win against Manchester City?

Q3: Who were the only side to do the double over City last season? Here’s a clue – they did it the season before as well.

Q4: Which side has won all of their last four visits to Eastlands?

Q5: Which side has won seven of their last eight games against Manchester City?

Q6: Who is 5-2 ON to win Saturday’s game?

Answers: Q1 – Everton. Q2 – Everton. Q3 – Everton. Q4 – Everton. Q5 – Everton. Q6 – Man City.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Everton beat Manchester City 2-1 in both encounters last season. The Toffees scored two goals from just two shots on target during their win in December.
• Tim Cahill has opened the scoring in three of the last four games he has started against City.

Manchester City

• They have scored 17 goals in just five league matches.

• The last game they lost in the Premier League was against Everton on 7 May. Their draw against Fulham last week brought to an end a run of seven-straight victories since that defeat.

• Sergio Aguero has scored eight goals in just 329 minutes of Premier League football for City, which is a goal every 41 minutes. His goals have come from just 10 shots on target.

• Aguero is only the second player after Micky Quinn to score eight times in his first five Premier League games.

Everton

• They won only three of their first 17 league matches last season – but have two wins already from their four games so far.

• Their record from four games is identical to their start to the 2007-08 season when they went on to finish fifth.

• Tim Cahill has failed to score for Everton in 2011. His run of 14 league matches without a goal is his longest drought in six years. In contrast to Aguero, he has failed to score from his 10 attempts on target this season.