LIVE MATCH CENTRE
16 March, 2013
| Everton |
FT
20
|
Manchester City |
Leon Osman 32'
1 - 0
Nikica Jelavic 90'
2 - 0
HT:
1 - 0
Goodison Park (Attendance: 36,519)
Everton
Jan Mucha
1
Seamus Coleman
23
John Heitinga
5
Sylvain Distin
15
Leighton Baines
3
Leon Osman
21
Darron Gibson
4
Steven Pienaar
22
Marouane Fellaini
25
Kevin Mirallas
11
Victor Anichebe
28
Substitutes
Steven Naismith
14
Nikica Jelavic
7
Phil Neville
18
Shane Duffy
34
Bryan Oviedo
8
Ross Barkley
20
Mason Springthorpe
46
Manchester City
1
Joe Hart
5
Pablo Zabaleta
28
Kolo Touré
33
Matija Nastasic
7
James Milner
14
Javi García
18
Gareth Barry
13
Aleksandar Kolarov
32
Carlos Tévez
10
Edin Dzeko
21
David Silva
Substitutes
22
Gael Clichy
8
Samir Nasri
11
Scott Sinclair
6
Joleon Lescott
62
Abdul Razak
30
Costel Pantilimon
64
Marcos Lopes
Referee: Lee Probert
90'
Game Over
Everton 2-0 Manchester City
90'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Nikica Jelavic (Everton)
90'
Goal
Nikica Jelavic (Everton), Assist by Marouane Fellaini
90'
Shot on Target
Nikica Jelavic (Everton)
90'
Throw-In
Gael Clichy (Manchester City)
90'
Throw-In
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
90'
Cross
Gael Clichy (Manchester City)
90'
Cross
Samir Nasri (Manchester City)
90'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Leon Osman (Everton)
90'
Offside
Nikica Jelavic (Everton)
90'
Throw-In
Leighton Baines (Everton)
90'
Throw-In
Leighton Baines (Everton)
90'
Substitution
Nikica Jelavic on for Victor Anichebe (Everton)
89'
Cross
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
89'
Throw-In
David Silva (Manchester City)
87'
Shot on Target
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
87'
Free Kick
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
87'
Foul
Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
87'
Shot
Carlos Tévez (Manchester City)
85'
Throw-In
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
85'
Throw-In
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
85'
Throw-In
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
84'
Corner Kick
Steven Naismith (Everton)
84'
Throw-In
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
83'
Substitution
Scott Sinclair on for Kolo Touré (Manchester City)
83'
Substitution
Gael Clichy on for James Milner (Manchester City)
82'
Shot on Target
Samir Nasri (Manchester City)
82'
Throw-In
James Milner (Manchester City)
82'
Corner Kick
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
82'
Corner Kick
James Milner (Manchester City)
81'
Cross
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
81'
Corner Kick
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
80'
Shot on Target
James Milner (Manchester City)
80'
Throw-In
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
79'
Shot on Target
Edin Dzeko (Manchester City)
79'
Throw-In
Samir Nasri (Manchester City)
79'
Shot on Target
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
78'
Throw-In
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
78'
Goal Kick
Joe Hart (Manchester City)
78'
Shot
Sylvain Distin (Everton)
78'
Corner Kick
Leighton Baines (Everton)
76'
Throw-In
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
75'
Throw-In
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
75'
Foul
Pablo Zabaleta fouled by John Heitinga (Everton)
75'
Corner Kick
Leighton Baines (Everton)
73'
Goal Kick
Jan Mucha (Everton)
73'
Shot
Edin Dzeko (Manchester City)
73'
Corner Kick
David Silva (Manchester City)
71'
Throw-In
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
70'
Substitution
Steven Naismith on for Kevin Mirallas (Everton)
70'
Substitution
Samir Nasri on for Gareth Barry (Manchester City)
69'
Corner Kick
Kevin Mirallas (Everton)
68'
Goal Kick
Jan Mucha (Everton)
68'
Shot
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
68'
Corner Kick
David Silva (Manchester City)
67'
Shot on Target
James Milner (Manchester City)
67'
Shot on Target
Carlos Tévez (Manchester City)
67'
Foul
Aleksandar Kolarov fouled by Kevin Mirallas (Everton)
65'
Foul
Kevin Mirallas fouled by James Milner (Manchester City)
64'
Foul
Carlos Tévez fouled by Seamus Coleman (Everton)
63'
Corner Kick
Kevin Mirallas (Everton)
62'
Throw-In
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
61'
Red Card
Red Card - Steven Pienaar (Everton)
60'
Foul
Javi García fouled by Steven Pienaar (Everton)
60'
Goal Kick
Joe Hart (Manchester City)
59'
Corner Kick
Leighton Baines (Everton)
59'
Shot on Target
Leon Osman (Everton)
59'
Corner Kick
Leighton Baines (Everton)
58'
Throw-In
Leighton Baines (Everton)
58'
Goal Kick
Jan Mucha (Everton)
58'
Cross
James Milner (Manchester City)
57'
Foul
Joe Hart fouled by Victor Anichebe (Everton)
57'
Corner Kick
Kevin Mirallas (Everton)
56'
Throw-In
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
56'
Goal Kick
Jan Mucha (Everton)
55'
Corner Kick
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
54'
Throw-In
James Milner (Manchester City)
53'
Throw-In
Leighton Baines (Everton)
52'
Foul
Gareth Barry fouled by Leon Osman (Everton)
52'
Throw-In
Javi García (Manchester City)
51'
Cross
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
51'
Throw-In
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
50'
Shot
Victor Anichebe (Everton)
50'
Throw-In
Leighton Baines (Everton)
49'
Throw-In
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
47'
Goal Kick
Jan Mucha (Everton)
47'
Shot
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
46'
Offside
Victor Anichebe (Everton)
46'
Throw-In
Leighton Baines (Everton)
46'
Start Half
45'
Half Over
Everton 1-0 Manchester City
45'
Foul
Matija Nastasic fouled by Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
45'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - David Silva (Manchester City)
45'
Foul
Seamus Coleman fouled by David Silva (Manchester City)
45'
Throw-In
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
45'
Throw-In
Leighton Baines (Everton)
44'
Corner Kick
Kevin Mirallas (Everton)
44'
Shot on Target
Kevin Mirallas (Everton)
43'
Goal Kick
Jan Mucha (Everton)
43'
Shot
Edin Dzeko (Manchester City)
43'
Cross
David Silva (Manchester City)
42'
Goal Kick
Jan Mucha (Everton)
41'
Foul
James Milner fouled by Leon Osman (Everton)
40'
Throw-In
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
40'
Goal Kick
Jan Mucha (Everton)
39'
Shot
Carlos Tévez (Manchester City)
39'
Throw-In
Leighton Baines (Everton)
39'
Goal Kick
Joe Hart (Manchester City)
38'
Shot
Victor Anichebe (Everton)
37'
Throw-In
Leighton Baines (Everton)
37'
Throw-In
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
35'
Corner Kick
Kevin Mirallas (Everton)
35'
Cross
Victor Anichebe (Everton)
34'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Edin Dzeko (Manchester City)
34'
Foul
Seamus Coleman fouled by Edin Dzeko (Manchester City)
34'
Throw-In
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
32'
Goal
Leon Osman (Everton), Assist by Seamus Coleman
32'
Shot on Target
Leon Osman (Everton)
32'
Throw-In
Leighton Baines (Everton)
32'
Cross
Leighton Baines (Everton)
31'
Foul
Victor Anichebe fouled by Kolo Touré (Manchester City)
31'
Throw-In
Leighton Baines (Everton)
30'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
29'
Foul
Seamus Coleman fouled by Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
29'
Throw-In
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
28'
Foul
Sylvain Distin fouled by Gareth Barry (Manchester City)
27'
Shot on Target
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
27'
Free Kick
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
26'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Steven Pienaar (Everton)
26'
Foul
Gareth Barry fouled by Steven Pienaar (Everton)
26'
Goal Kick
Joe Hart (Manchester City)
26'
Foul
Pablo Zabaleta fouled by Steven Pienaar (Everton)
26'
Goal Kick
Joe Hart (Manchester City)
25'
Shot
Kevin Mirallas (Everton)
25'
Shot on Target
Edin Dzeko (Manchester City)
24'
Shot on Target
Edin Dzeko (Manchester City)
23'
Shot on Target
Carlos Tévez (Manchester City)
23'
Throw-In
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
22'
Cross
David Silva (Manchester City)
22'
Free Kick
David Silva (Manchester City)
22'
Foul
Pablo Zabaleta fouled by Steven Pienaar (Everton)
21'
Goal Kick
Joe Hart (Manchester City)
21'
Cross
Leon Osman (Everton)
21'
Throw-In
Leighton Baines (Everton)
20'
Cross
Leighton Baines (Everton)
20'
Goal Kick
Joe Hart (Manchester City)
19'
Shot
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
19'
Throw-In
Kevin Mirallas (Everton)
18'
Foul
Javi García fouled by Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
17'
Throw-In
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
17'
Throw-In
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
16'
Throw-In
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
16'
Shot
Leon Osman (Everton)
15'
Corner Kick
Leighton Baines (Everton)
14'
Throw-In
Leighton Baines (Everton)
14'
Foul
Pablo Zabaleta fouled by Steven Pienaar (Everton)
14'
Throw-In
Leighton Baines (Everton)
13'
Goal Kick
Jan Mucha (Everton)
13'
Offside
Kevin Mirallas (Everton)
12'
Cross
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
12'
Cross
Leighton Baines (Everton)
12'
Free Kick
Leighton Baines (Everton)
12'
Foul
Leon Osman fouled by James Milner (Manchester City)
11'
Throw-In
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
11'
Throw-In
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
11'
Throw-In
Leighton Baines (Everton)
10'
Cross
Leighton Baines (Everton)
10'
Corner Kick
Kevin Mirallas (Everton)
9'
Shot on Target
Darron Gibson (Everton)
9'
Free Kick
Darron Gibson (Everton)
8'
Foul
Victor Anichebe fouled by Kolo Touré (Manchester City)
7'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
7'
Foul
James Milner fouled by Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
7'
Corner Kick
Leighton Baines (Everton)
6'
Cross
Leighton Baines (Everton)
6'
Free Kick
Leighton Baines (Everton)
6'
Foul
Leighton Baines fouled by James Milner (Manchester City)
5'
Throw-In
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
5'
Throw-In
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
4'
Throw-In
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
3'
Cross
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
3'
Free Kick
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
2'
Foul
Javi García fouled by Kevin Mirallas (Everton)
2'
Throw-In
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
1'
Foul
Marouane Fellaini fouled by Gareth Barry (Manchester City)
1'
Throw-In
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
1'
Start Half

Ten-man Everton grab a famous victory which takes them up to fifth and deals probably the final fatal blow to Manchester City's slender title hopes. The all-important goal came after 33 minutes and was fit to win any big game. Leon Osman cut across the ball with his left foot to conjure up a magnificent long-range strike that the bewildered Joe Hart could only watch as it swerved into the top corner. City were well below their best and could not find the net even after Everton were reduced to ten men just after the hour when Steven Pienaar was dismissed for an ill-judged tackle. Robert Mancini's men piled on the pressure, but the Everton defence held firm for the most part and when they were beaten, Jan Mucha made excellent saves to deny Tevez and Milner. The visitors will feel hard done by, as a handball by Marouane Fellaini near the end was clearly inside the area, but Mr Probert awarded only a free-kick instead of a penalty. Their misery was compounded in added time by a second from Nikica Jelavic. Manchester United can go 15 points clear with victory over Reading later today.
Everton make sure of victory with a breakaway goal by Jelavic, who was set up by Fellaini.
Osman is shown the yellow card for time wasting.
Anichebe is given a rousing ovation as he leaves the field to be replaced by Nikica Jelavic.
Kolarov adds insult to injury for City as his free-kick crashes straight into the defensive wall.
A shot from Tevez is blocked by the arm of Fellaini. It should be a penalty, but Mr Probert only gives a free-kick. The Belgian was a yard inside the box.
City make a double switch, with Sinclair and Clichy replacing Toure and Milner.
Coleman makes a brilliant diving clearance to deny Tevez, just as the Argentine was steadying himself to convert a cross from the right by Silva. The pressure is being heaped on the home side. Nasri's tame shot is saved easily.
There is some debate as to whether Pienaar received a red card for the nasty tackle that led to his dismissal. Mr Probert's post-match report will clear that one up.
City go close again, but Mucha races off his line to block a point-blank shot from Zabaleta. That was an excellent stop.
Hart comes and fails to gather a Baines corner and Distin heads over an unguarded goal. That could so easily have been a second.
Dzeko is first to Silva's right-wing corner, but gets too much on his flicked header from in front of the near post and the effort goes well over the bar.
City's only defeat in 13 meetings against top-half opposition came in December's Manchester derby against United and remember they only conceded the decisive goal in that one (to Robin van Persie's deflected free-kick) in the final minute.
City replace Barry with Samir Nasri. Everton reply by taking off Mirallas and replacing him with Steven Naismith.
City go so close to levelling. Dzeko's lofted pass finds Tevez, but his initial effort is blocked by Mucha, who then gets to his feet and saves the follow-up from Milner. Zabaleta shoots over moments later.
Coleman trips Tevez on the left corner of the Everton area. Milner squares the ball to Kolarov, but he goes for placement rather than power and the effort is easily blocked.
Well that dismissal should change the face of the game, but Everton have worked so hard for the cause you wouldn't rule them out maintaining or even adding to this lead.
Javi Garcia is left writhing around on the floor after a challenge from Pienaar, who is shown the red card for a second bookable offence. Looking at the replay he can have no complaint whatsoever.
Everton are not far away from a second. Baines' corner from the left is flicked on and Osman's left-foot volley is deflected wide.
A long ball pumped down the centre causes indecision in the City defence. Fortunately for the visitors, Toure takes charge at the last moment and clears or Mirallas could have been left with a tap-in.
Milner rises highest to nod down Barry's cross from the left into the path of Garcia, who is unable to bundle the ball home from close range. Nastastic then fails to get on the end of a Silva corner. That's a major escape for Everton.
Sitting on the bench, Mancini looks distinctly unimpressed with what he is seeing from the visitors. Expect a change to come before too long.
Baines somehow manages to find Anichebe with a fine cross from the left. The Everton man looked as though he was marked, but ended up with a free header and is disappointed with what turned out to be a tame effort.
Anichebe is a little unsteady on his feet after catching a flailing arm in the face from Garcia. After brief treatment the Nigerian returns to the field.
Robert Mancini switched to a flat back four right at the end of the first half. Will the more traditional shape give his side more of an attacking threat? Kolarov blasts over in the early going.
City get the second half under way.
Everton lead at the break thanks to that long-range effort from Leon Osman on 33 minutes. It was a stunning strike from the stand-in captain, the viciously swerving shot with the outside of his foot from 25 yards giving Joe Hart no chance. The home side have deserved their lead, they have been up for this one right from the start and have been anxious to make amends for that pitiful display against Wigan in the FA Cup last weekend. They could easily be two goals to the good, Kevin Mirallas having an early strike unjustly ruled out for offside. City enjoyed a spell of possession midway through the half without creating anything that really threatened Jan Mucha's goal. As it stands, Everton are on course for their fourth successive home victory over City.
Chasing back, Silva trips Coleman and is shown his first yellow card of the season.
Coleman's dipping cross from the right causes Hart problems and he punches weakly to Mirallas, whose header strikes Toure and goes out for a corner.
Kolarov delivers an excellent cross from the left, but Dzeko mistimes his jump slightly and, leaning back, heads over the crossbar.
Tevez does well to escape the attentions of Heitinga and shoots just past the post from 25 yards.
Everton threaten again as Anichebe turns impressively inside the area before shooting over the crossbar.
Everton want a penalty for a foul by Nastasic on Fellaini. Mr Probert, though, waves play on. It was more of a penalty than the one given to Norwich against Southampton last weekend, but not quite enough to warrant a spot-kick, if you see what I mean.
Mr Probert loses patience with Dzeko and shows the City forward a yellow card for persistent fouling.
Leon Osman gives Everton the lead with a stunning strike, his swerving left-footer from 25 yards out finding the top corner.
Fellaini manages a header on target from a long free-kick from the opposite flank by Baines, but gets no purchase behind the effort and Hart saves easily.
Kolarov wrestles Pienaar to the ground and is the first City player to be cautioned.
Barry jumps into Distin rather than going for the ball and the Everton central defender falls awkwardly. Mr Probert decides not to reach for the yellow card this time, much to the disgust of the home fans.
Pienaar dives in and catches the back of Barry's legs after the ball had gone. That's a clear yellow card.
Dzeko then has a go with his right foot, but again the strike is too near the centre of the goal and gives Mucha no alarms.
Tevez exchanges passes with Silva, but his tame shot from 25 yards is easy for Mucha. Dzeko then swivels and gets in another effort on target. City are getting a taste for this.
Silva's free-kick from wide on the right is allowed to travel all the way through to the goalkeeper, but Mucha had watched it all the way and was not caught out as Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech was at Old Trafford last weekend.
There are no half-measures with Marouane Fellaini. I've just got a feeling he will either get the winner or be sent off today.
City's defence has been almost back to its best recently. They have kept clean sheets in six of their last eight league matches and their 13 clean sheets is the best in the Premier League.
Silva finds a little space down the City right, but his deflected cross is safely gathered by Mucha.
Twelve years ago, Roberto Mancini was playing his last game as a player, for Leicester at Everton. Where was David Moyes 11 years ago? Taking charge of Everton for the first time. It was the Scot's anniversary yesterday and what a good appointment it has proved by the board.
It's been a cracking start by the home side. City have barely had a kick in the attacking third of the field so far.
Mirallas lashes a volley into the roof of the net, but the flag is up for offside. That was a borderline decision, looking at the replay.
Pienaar lofts an inviting ball over the top for Anichebe, but the ball skips off the slick surface and through to Hart. There's a steady drizzle here at Goodison at the moment.
Fellaini takes out Milner with a rash late challenge. That could have easily been a red card, but instead it's a tenth booking of the season and a two-game ban.
Milner trips Baines near the by-line, but the delivery from the Everton left-back is headed away by Kolo Toure. Mirallas fluffs a half-chance from the resulting corner.
Dzeko gets an accidental forearm to the face from Distin and gets up a little groggily. Mr Probert speaks to captain Zabaleta about the City striker's reaction to the challenge.
Rumours before kick-off of City deploying a three-man backline look to be true. It's Kolo Toure, Nastasic and Zabaleta, with Kolarov and Milner tracking up and down the wings.
It shows how short of in-depth quality Everton are that Marouane Fellaini has been included again from the start. Following his abject display against Wigan last week and his subsequent storming off down the tunnel after his substitution, you know disciplinarian David Moyes would love to have dropped the Belgian to the bench.
Everton kick off, attacking the goal to our left.
Everton: Mucha, Coleman, Heitinga, Distin, Baines, Mirallas, Gibson, Osman, Pienaar, Fellaini, Anichebe. Subs: Springthorpe, Jelavic, Oviedo, Naismith, Neville, Barkley, Duffy. Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Toure, Nastasic, Kolarov, Javi Garcia, Barry, Milner, Tevez, Silva, Dzeko. Subs: Pantilimon, Lescott, Nasri, Sinclair, Clichy, Razak, Lopes. Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
Everton make two changes to the side that beat Reading in their last league game, with Johnny Heitinga replacing the injured Phil Jagielka and Victor Anichebe replacing Nikica Jelavic up front. City show three changes from the team that beat Aston Villa in their last league game. Aleksandar Kolarov replaces Gael Clichy at left-back, Yaya Toure has been ruled out with a migraine and his place goes to Gareth Barry in midfield and Edin Dzeko comes in for the injured Jack Rodwell.
Manchester City will be looking to trim the gap at the top to nine points for a few hours with victory at Everton in Saturday's early kick-off in the Premier League. It will not be an easy task for Roberto Mancini's men, because if there has been such a thing as a bogey side for City in recent years, the Merseysiders have been it, along with Manchester United. For their part, Everton desperately need a win to ensure they still have something to play for over the remainder of the season. The Toffees quietly fancied their chances of lifting the FA Cup but those dreams were shattered when they suffered a stunning 3-0 home reverse to Wigan last weekend and seeing the victors land an easy-looking tie with Championship side Millwall in the semi-finals will have only added to their angst. Sitting in seventh, their lowest position of the season, the home side can ill afford a third league defeat in four, and it will not have escaped their attention that Merseyside rivals Liverpool went above them for the first time this season following the 3-2 win over Tottenham last weekend. Everton boss David Moyes is expecting an open, attacking game of football today. “I can't for a minute see Manchester City coming here and thinking that they have got to stop Everton,” he told the club's official website. “They will look to try and win. I've got to say that every game we play at Goodison we look to win – that doesn't alter whoever we play. We'll have a big job stopping them and we have to go and make sure that we take our opportunities.” Today's game kicks off at 1245GMT, so join us around 30 minutes beforehand when we should have the confirmed team news, which will be followed by a match commentary.
Marouane Fellaini has 11 goals to his credit in the Premier League in 2012-13 and has relished the opportunity to play further forward this season due to the Merseysiders' lack of fit or functioning first-team strikers. The Belgian was both hero and villain at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season, using his thigh to divert the ball past Joe Hart on 33 minutes for an Everton opener, but committing the foul on Edin Dzeko that led to City's leveller from the penalty spot. With Sergio Aguero again missing, much of the visitors' threat will come through Carlos Tevez. The Argentine is still keen on a return to his homeland when his current deal runs out next summer, but City are equally committed to keeping him in Manchester and have begun talks on a new contract. Tevez has not quite hit the heights of previous campaigns, but he still has 14 goals to his name in all competitions and has six in his last four games, including a hat-trick last time out against Barnsley in the FA Cup.
Everton just have the head-to-head edge in league meetings between the sides with 60 wins to 59 by Manchester City and 40 games being drawn. At Goodison Park, Everton have 41 wins to 16 by City, with a further 22 meetings ending up all square. The earlier meeting between the sides this season in Manchester on Dec. 1 finished in a 1-1 draw. Marouane Fellaini gave Everton a 33rd-minute lead, only for Carlos Tevez to level ten minutes later from the penalty spot. The corresponding match last season on Jan. 31 saw Everton win 1-0 through a goal on the hour from Darron Gibson. City have lost on their last three trips to Goodison in the league and have won just one of their last 14 matches at Everton.
Everton start the day in seventh place with 45 points from 28 games, just behind Liverpool but with a game in hand. David Moyes' men beat Reading at home last time out in the Premier League. But prior to that they lost at Manchester United and Norwich and have only won two of the last seven. At home, though, they are a tough proposition for anyone, having lost just once in 14 outings at Goodison in the Premier League this season, the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Dec. 30. City currently lie second with 59 points from 28 games, 12 points behind United. They have lost two of 14 away (at Sunderland and most recently Southampton on Feb. 9) and have the joint best away defensive record along with Arsenal, conceding 13 goals.
Everton will again be without goalkeeper Tim Howard and influential defender Phil Jagielka. Howard broke two bones in his back in the FA Cup win over Oldham, while Jagielka has had minor ankle surgery. Full-back Tony Hibbert (calf) may not play again this season. For their part, City will again have to do without captain Vincent Kompany (calf) and striker Sergio Aguero (knee). Defenders Micah Richards and Maicon (both knee) and midfielder Jack Rodwell (hamstring) remain on the long-term injury list.
Taking charge of today's game is Lee Probert, who was appointed to the Select Group Referees List in 2007. In terms of cards-per-game the Gloucestershire official has been one of the more lenient in the top flight over the past two seasons. Probert has refereed 17 Premier League games this season, administering 52 cautions and dismissing one player, Fulham's Brede Hangeland, in the match with Sunderland at Craven Cottage. His assistants today are Andy Halliday and Ron Ganfield, while Martin Atkinson is the fourth official.