Filed under: Everton, Manchester City, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: GOODISON PARK, SATURDAY MAY 7, 2011: KICK-OFF 1500 BSTWembley might be beckoning for Manchester City.
But Roberto Mancini is demanding his players secure a Champions League berth before they step out to face Stoke in next weekend's FA Cup Final.
Six points are up for grabs between now and then - and Mancini has made it crystal clear he does not want any slip-ups.
Victory at Goodison Park followed by three more points against top-four challengers Tottenham next Tuesday will be enough to guarantee a place in next season's Champions League.
It is the start of one of the biggest weeks in City's history but Everton are determined to rip up the script.
Having seen their hopes of a top six finish disappear, David Moyes's side can still have a big say on proceedings at the top.
They host title-chasing Chelsea on the final day of the season, but upsetting Mancini's
expensively-assembled side is an opportunity Moyes is relishing.
While the City manager has been allowed to fork out £250 million on his team, Moyes has had to do his shopping at the bargain basement end of the transfer market.
Yet there they are still fighting to finish seventh which, if achieved, will almost be as impressive an effort as City qualifying for the Champions League.
Key Match-up: Tim Howard v Mario Balotelli: It is fair to say Super Mario needs to return to goalscoring form ahead of Wembley. The Italian has not found the net since reaching double figures by netting against Aston Villa in the FA Cup. That was two months ago. Howard is disappointed not to have kept more than eight clean sheets in the league. He will feel a whole lot better if he can help disrupt City's path to the Champions League.
Form Guide: It is one defeat in 10 now for Everton, who are unbeaten in the last nine league games at Goodison Park since West Brom were allowed to run riot. Since their last visit to Merseyside ended in a 3-0 defeat at Liverpool, City have won back-to-back league games against Blackburn and West Ham.
Odds: Everton 15/8, Man City 7/4, Draw 23/10
EVERTON:
Phil Neville has labelled flamboyant City forward Balotelli a "nightmare" to play against.
Balotelli has courted controversy both on and off the pitch since arriving in Manchester earlier in the season.
But despite failing to score in his last 10 appearances, Neville believes the former Inter Milan player is City's danger man.
"People forget he's a young player, and when you're young you do things that are wrong as well as right, that's just the fabric of young players," the Goodison captain told evertontv.
"He's a nightmare to play against because more than anything he's got undoubted ability and when someone has got that ability you've got to pay them the respect they deserve.
"We've got two young players - Jack Rodwell and Seamus Coleman - and you don't quite get the consistency you do at that age as you do at 24 or 25.
"But I've watched him (Balotelli) play in the last few weeks and I think he's been outstanding, forget the rubbish that goes along with him. He's a quality player."
Strategy: Moyes's side have to be more ruthless in attack if they are to return to winning ways. Despite coming within six minutes of a hard-earned point at Manchester United, Everton posed little threat. The same happened at Wigan although they did manage to score from the penalty spot. Jermaine Beckford could well be restored to the attack in place of Victor Anichebe, who was disappointing against Wigan.
Injury Update: Mikel Arteta (hamstring) and Tim Cahill (foot) will be assessed ahead of the game but should feature. Louis Saha (ankle) and Marouane Fellaini (ankle) are missing until next season.
MAN CITY:
Mancini cannot explain why Everton hold the Indian sign over his Manchester City side - but backed them to end their hoodoo.
Everton have won the last three games in a row against Mancini's side, including a 2-1 win in December that prevented Man City from going top of the Premier League over Christmas.
Mancini said: "It will be a difficult game and it's important we play very well against Everton if we what to end that run.
"It's always difficult for us but we want to change that. Sometimes it can happen and there's no reason why one team always win. We want to change that record now.
"Against Everton in December we started the game slowly. We had a few injures and they scored a couple of early goals. That put us on the backfoot - it's as simple as that.
"We have improved since then but it will be very hard and we will have to be ready to fight."
Mancini admits the next period of the season, with an FA Cup final against Stoke looming, will shape their season.
He added: "The next 10 days are very important to us. We need to finish this job off well.
"We have an FA Cup final and we have a big chance to get in the Champions League.
"We need four points and that should be enough for us - that was the target and we have worked very hard for this."
Mancini will once again be without Carlos Tevez, who battling to overcome a hamstring injury.
Tevez, who has returned to light training, is facing a race against time to be fit for the FA Cup Final on May 14.
Mancini added: "It is very difficult for him to play against Everton. If he doesn't play against Tottenham next week, it will be impossible for Carlos to play in the final.
"I need every player 200 per cent for the final. I can't play with one player who is 50 per cent."
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