In mid - January, when David Moyes took over from Sean Dyche, Everton were only one point above the Premier League relegation zone. Currently, they have a remarkable 17 - point lead over the bottom three teams. With five games remaining after their encounter with Man City, they could secure their top - flight status this weekend.

Since Moyes joined, only four other Premier League teams have amassed more points than Everton (21). Moyes has an impressive record of five wins, six draws, and just two losses in 13 top - flight matches. Most recently, last weekend, his team pulled off a surprise yet well - deserved 1 - 0 victory at Nottingham Forest, a team vying for a top - five finish.

Everton seemed destined for a goalless draw at the City Ground until a stunning breakaway in the fourth minute of added time was finished off by Abdoulaye Doucoure, helping the Merseysiders secure their eighth league win of the season and fifth under Moyes to fire them up to 13th in the table.

The Toffees will welcome Saturday's return to Goodison Park where they are unbeaten in their last six PL games, although each of their last four have ended all square and they have never drawn five consecutive home league games in their history.

Success against Man City has been hard to come by for Everton, as they are winless in their last 15 Premier League meetings with the Citizens (D3 L12) since beating them 4-0 on home soil in January 2017 - a result that still to this day represents the joint-heaviest defeat of Pep Guardiola's managerial career.

Almost a week on from watching ones of the dullest Manchester derbies, Man City supporters were fearing the worst at home to Crystal Palace last weekend as the Citizens were trailing by two goals in a testing opening 21 minutes.

However, Guardiola's men staged an impressive comeback, inspired by soon-to-be-departing Kevin De Bruyne, to overwhelm the Eagles by a 5-2 scoreline and strengthen their hopes of securing Champions League qualification for next season.

Man City have now scored a total of 102 goals across all competitions in 2024-25, surpassing a century of goals for the 12th consecutive season which is the longest run of any top-flight team in history. The Citizens have also picked up eight points across their last four Premier League fixtures (W2 D2) and victory over Palace moved them back into the top five with six games of the season remaining.

Since thrashing Ipswich Town 6-0 at Portman Road in January, Man City have only found the net on two occasions across their last four Premier League away games (W1 D1 L2), failing to score at all in their last two against Nottingham Forest (1-0) and Man United (0-0). The Citizens last failed to make the net ripple in three successive away games back in December 2015 under former boss Manuel Pellegrini.

Nevertheless, Man City will back themselves to come out on top against Everton this weekend, as they have won each of their last eight visits to Goodison Park across all competitions, scoring two or more goals on seven of those occasions.

Everton's Jesper Lindstrom - on loan from Napoli - may have played his last game for the Toffees having recently underwent a hernia operation, and he is joined on the sidelines by Orel Mangala (knee) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (hamstring).

Dwight McNeil has made two brief substitute appearances since recovering from a long-term knee injury, but whether he is ready to start ahead of Jack Harrison on the right flank this weekend remains to be seen.

Carlos Alcaraz may once again be utilised as an impact substitute as Iliman Ndiaye and Doucoure continue in advanced roles, while Beto could be recalled to the first XI to start up front at the expense of Armando Broja.

As for Man City, Ederson aggravated a groin issue against Palace and is set to join Rodri (ACL), Nathan Ake (foot), John Stones (thigh), Erling Haaland (ankle) and Manuel Akanji (abductor) in the treatment room, while Phil Foden (knock) will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

While Stefan Ortega is expected to replace Ederson in goal, Guardiola could be tempted to make one or two changes in defence following a shaky first half-hour against Palace. Matheus Nunes will be pushing to replace Rico Lewis at right-back and Abdukodir Khusanov could be recalled at centre-back if Josko Gvardiol replaces Nico O'Reilly at left-back.

Bernardo Silva, who scored in the reverse fixture against Everton, could return in midfield, while De Bruyne and Omar Marmoush could be joined in the final third by either Savinho or Jeremy Doku if James McAtee makes way.

Everton possible starting lineup:

Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; Harrison, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Beto

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ortega; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Gonzalez, Gundogan, Bernardo; Savinho, Marmoush, De Bruyne