Manchester City vs Everton. Premier League.
Etihad StadiumAttendance10,000.
Manchester City's Sergio Aguero hopeful of being fit for swansong; James Rodriguez out injured; watch Man City vs Everton - including City's trophy lift - live on Sky Sports Premier League from 3pm on Sunday; kick-off 4pm
Sunday 23 May 2021 15:03, UK
Team news, stats and prediction ahead of Man City vs Everton in the Premier League on Sunday, live on Sky Sports (kick-off 4pm).
Sergio Aguero is hoping to prove his fitness to make one final home appearance for Manchester City as they face Everton on Sunday.
City's record goalscorer, who is leaving the club at the end of the season, has missed the last two games with a muscular injury but is hopeful of playing some part.
Joao Cancelo is suspended but Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling have overcome ankle and muscular injuries respectively. The knee problem that saw midfielder Ilkay Gundogan withdrawn in midweek has not proved serious.
Everton playmaker James Rodriguez will not be fit as he continues to be sidelined by a persistent calf problem.
Captain Seamus Coleman is also out after sustaining a knock against Wolves in midweek.
Long-term injured midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin is the only absentee.
Courtesy of being crowned Premier League champions, City will be in the Champions League next season - and they could, of course, still win the trophy this year in May 29's final.
The Europa League is just about still achievable for Everton. But they would need West Ham to lose on the final day, and Tottenham to fail to win. And beat Man City at the Etihad themselves... nobody said it would be easy.
The Europa Conference League is also a possibility. To do that they would have to displace Tottenham in seventh by bettering their result and that of Arsenal.
Man City vs Everton - including City's trophy lift - will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League from 3pm; kick-off 4pm. Sky Sports customers can watch in-game clips in the live match blog on the Sky Sports website and app. Highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.
Everton are worth chucking a few quid at here at 6/1 with Sky Bet.
Pep Guardiola's team will be in party mood in front of their own fans. The result will not be as important as making sure fringe players get a run-out and the big guns will not be risked with the biggest game in the club's history on the horizon. Meanwhile, for Carlo Ancelotti's side, qualification for the Europa Conference League is a possibility. To do that they would have to displace Tottenham in seventh by bettering their result and that of Arsenal.
Everton's style of defending deep and playing direct to their front two is exactly the type of team that can cause City issues. I like their chances.
Guardiola is likely to give the defensive axis of John Stones and Ruben Dias a rest which does significantly weaken them when defending their box. Nathan Ake and Ayermic Laporte looked all at sea against Newcastle from direct balls. This is an area where Everton are notoriously strong. No team have scored more headed goals than them this season (14). All this adds up to the dangerous Yerry Mina becoming a bet to score the first goal at a juicy 33/1 with Sky Bet.
CORRECT SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2
BETTING ANGLE: Yerry Mina to score first (33/1 with Sky Bet)
In the final Pitch to Post Preview Podcast of the Premier League season we look ahead to the final day and debate which sides will come out on top in the race for European football.
From the three-way battle for two top-four places and Champions League football between Chelsea, Liverpool and Leicester, to West Ham, Tottenham and Everton vying for a Europa League place, and Arsenal's chances of a Europa Conference League appearance, Sky Sports' Nick Wright and Oli Yew join Peter Smith to assess the various permutations - and make their predictions!
The panel also reflect on another Premier League title win for Pep Guardiola's Manchester City as they prepare to lift the trophy in front of their own fans on Sunday.
Listen to the Sky Sports Pitch to Post Podcast on: Spotify | Apple | Castbox