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Manchester City will be without Kevin De Bruyne when they welcome Everton to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola confirmed that the midfielder received a positive Covid-19 test whilst away with Belgium on international duty and will isolate for 10 days.
It means De Bruyne will also miss City’s crucial Champions League fixture against Paris Saint-Germain as well as their Premier League match with West Ham United next weekend.
The Manchester City manager also revealed that he may be without Jack Grealish who suffered a small injury whilst away with England. Phil Foden, who also picked up a knock whilst away with the Three Lions, has a chance of making the matchday squad.
Positive news for City fans is that despite Bernardo Silva (muscle) and Cole Palmer (hamstring) missed out on international duty due to injuries, the duo look set to be available after training in the week.
The boys are back in the building after the international break! ?#ManCity pic.twitter.com/tqIV6Rj2gP
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 18, 2021
Aymeric Laporte, who missed City’s 2-0 win over rivals Manchester United last time out, could return after serving his suspension following his red card in their defeat to Crystal Palace.
Rafael Benitez confirmed Yerry Mina (hamstring), Andre Gomes (calf), Abdoulaye Doucoure (foot), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (quadriceps) and Tom Davies (knee) are unavailable for Everton’s trip across the M62.
The Spaniard revealed Doucoure is expected to be back for the Merseyside derby in two weeks although a return against Liverpool may come a week too early for Calvert-Lewin.
The Toffees will also be without Mason Holgate who is serving the first of a three-match suspension after his red card in Everton’s goalless draw with Tottenham Hotspur last time out.
Everton, who sit 11th in the table, currently find themselves winless in their last five outings and if they were to lose to City, it would be the first time since Sam Allardyce’s tenure the Toffees have failed to win in six league matches.
However, leaving the Etihad with three points is something Everton haven’t achieved in their last 10 attempts and something Benitez has failed to accomplish in his last four.
The Blues’ last victory in Manchester came in 2010 when goals from Tim Cahill and Leighton Baines helped the 10-men of Everton hold on to a 2-1 win despite Yaya Toure halving the deficit.
Manchester City will be aiming to avoid any further slip-ups on Sunday as they hope to win back-to-back games and makeup three points that separate them from table-toppers Chelsea.
Everton poses as the perfect opponent for Guardiola’s side to do so as City have won their last eight league matches against the Toffees, only Manchester United have won more Premier League matches against the Merseysiders with nine consecutive victories.
Gabriel Jesus will be hoping to continue his impressive record when facing Everton with the forward scoring eight goals in nine matches against the Toffees.
Everton’s last defeated the current champions in 2016 when the Toffees stunned Pep Guardiola’s side to win 4-0 at Goodison Park but it will be a harder task for the Merseyside club to gain all three points.
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