Everton will mark their return from the international break with a clash against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The Toffees will be without star Jack Grealish, who scored the dramatic stoppage-time winner in the splendid 3-2 comeback win over Crystal Palace before the break. It was Grealish’s first goal for the club since signing on loan from City this summer.
The Everton number 18, who also won the player of the month award for the first time in his career in August, will be unable to face his parent side this weekend.
It will be interesting to see whether David Moyes opts for a like-for-like replacement in Tyler Dibling or decides to start with Charly Alcaraz, who turned the game around for Everton against Oliver Glasner’s side.
The win against Palace was Everton’s third of the season after picking up three points against Brighton and Wolves before the previous international break and they are eighth in the table with 11 points.
Manchester City, meanwhile, are just two points ahead and are fifth in the league standings. It was a summer of dramatic change for Pep Guardiola’s side, but they’ve rediscovered their mojo and are unbeaten in their last four league games.
Guardiola’s side have won 14 of the last 18 meetings between the two sides, including the 2-0 win at Goodison Park in April. Everton’s last win over Man City was in the 2016/17 season when Romelu Lukaku, Kevin Mirallas, Tom Davies and Ademola Lookman scored in a 4-0 thumping at home.
Manchester City vs Everton - Team News and Predicted Starting XI
Jack Grealish will be the biggest absentee for Everton this weekend as he’s unable to face his parent side. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will be reinstated after missing the game against Palace due to an accumulation of bookings.
Jarrad Branthwaite and Merlin Rohl have also returned to training with the team. Whether or not they make the squad for Etihad remains to be seen. Both of them are unlikely to start anyway.
As mentioned above, Moyes is likely to start with either Alcaraz or Dibling to make up for Grealish’s absence at Etihad on Saturday. However, Iliman Ndiaye is almost certain to move to the left once again, and Dibling is likely to be more comfortable playing off the right compared to Alcaraz.
Everton’s predicted starting XI: Jordan Pickford (GK), Jake O’Brien, James Tarkowski, Michael Keane, Vitalii Mykolenko, Idrissa Gueye, James Garner, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Tyler Dibling, Beto, Iliman Ndiaye.
Manchester City vs Everton - Form Guide
Manchester City: L-W-D-W-W
Everton: W-D-L-D-W
When is Manchester City vs Everton?
The Toffees will face Manchester City on Saturday afternoon (October 18). Kick-off is scheduled at 3:00 pm UK time.
Where to Watch Manchester City vs Everton?
The Premier League game between Manchester City vs Everton won’t be available for telecast in UK due to the embargo on Saturday afternoon kickoffs. Highlights will be available on the Sky Sports app and Sky Sports Youtube channel later.
Reader Comments (11)
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2 Posted 16/10/2025 at 17:48:08
Pickford
Obrien Tarks Keane Myko
Garner Gana KDH
Alcaraz Ndiaye
Beto
3 Posted 16/10/2025 at 22:53:43
Beto, is about as much use as an Ash-Tray on a I o M TT Bike !
4 Posted 17/10/2025 at 00:10:08
They play a high line so he can get in behind them and he is physical in the air which Stones and Dias will not like.
Against other teams I agree with you.
5 Posted 17/10/2025 at 05:28:15
6 Posted 17/10/2025 at 12:09:23
Moshiri ( and or his backers) would have done that deal without doubt and arguably had us receiving ill gotten funding before it was quickly repaid by TFG.
It was only the PL ‘fit and proper financial requirements’ that held this off.
I think we got away with one, a pretty big one. It feels like we were pretty close to an unmitigated disaster. Someday perhaps the whole truth will come out…hopefully not in a court of law.
7 Posted 17/10/2025 at 12:22:48
8 Posted 17/10/2025 at 12:27:11
9 Posted 17/10/2025 at 12:56:56
We have had some good results so far but are still way off being a competitive outfit.
We know City have great depth and I would feel better if Grealish and Branthwaite were available.
Moyes will probably play Alcaraz ahead of Dibling and go with 4-4-1-1.
10 Posted 17/10/2025 at 13:17:59
11 Posted 17/10/2025 at 13:30:36
I’d play Seamus too. Doku might wear him out a bit, though.
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1 Posted 16/10/2025 at 15:39:52
Alcaraz surely did enough after he came on to warrant a place but probably not on the wing. His best position is beginning to look like centre-midfield, just behind the striker for me.