How Man City to line up against Everton

10:46am on Friday 19th March 2021
By Team FC

Manchester City travel to Goodison Park to take on Carlo Ancelotti's Everton in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday afternoon.

Pep Guardiola's men are still in with a chance of completing an unprecedented quadruple thanks to their scintillating form this season, but they face a tough task in the shape of the Toffees over the weekend.

The Cityzens have bounced back from their disappointing Manchester derby defeat with three straight victories, scoring 10 goals in the process, and will be desperate to keep their good run of form going.

Victory for City would mean they've reached the last four of the competition three times in the last four years. However, a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang brace for Arsenal saw off the 2019 champions in last season's semi-final, and they'll be keen to put things right this time around.

Guardiola tends to field his second-choice goalkeeper in the cup competitions, and USA international shot-stopper Zak Steffen could come into the side for his 10th appearance of the campaign, replacing Ederson between the sticks.

An experienced back four is set to start ahead of the 25-year-old, with Kyle Walker likely to be given a chance to impress after finding himself playing second fiddle to Joao Cancelo in recent weeks and Aymeric Laporte coming in alongside Ruben Dias.

Oleksandr Zinchenko could complete the defensive unit, although Benjamin Mendy will also be hoping to feature from the off.

Despite the congested and condensed fixture schedule, City are almost completely injury-free after summer-signing Nathan Ake returned to training, meaning Guardiola has the freedom to chop and change his side as he sees fit.

Former Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri has played a crucial part in City's success this season and should keep his place at the base of the midfield, with the in-form Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne either side of the Spaniard.

In attack, Sergio Aguero will hope he gets a chance to continue his return from injury with a run out in this quarter-final tie after playing just 454 minutes of senior football all season.

Raheem Sterling and Ferran Torres are likely to complete the starting XI as City look to keep their FA Cup dreams alive.