Manchester City begin a gruelling run of games in their hunt for the Premier League title and the domestic treble when they visit Everton on Monday.
City’s first trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium begins a run of four games in 15 days for Pep Guardiola’s men. They could kick off six points behind Arsenal in the title race, albeit having played two games fewer, with the Gunners hosting Fulham on Saturday.
The club reportedly saw a number of fixture proposals rejected by the Premier League, leaving City with a pile-up to navigate.
City will host Brentford on Saturday following their trip to Merseyside, and then have a quick turnaround to their game with Crystal Palace the following Wednesday, which takes place three days before the FA Cup final with Chelsea.
Three days after their Wembley date, City travel to Bournemouth for their penultimate game of the campaign, but then have a slightly longer break before their finale against Aston Villa on May 24.
“It is what it is. Arsenal are in the Champions League semi-final, so it is what it is,” Guardiola said of the congestion. “When we won the treble, we had a similar calendar, but I learned a long time ago not to expect anything different. We have to adapt and take it game by game.
“It can happen in other countries, but here it is what it is. We have to adapt. If you don’t like it, go and train in France or Portugal. I like being here, and I’ve said many times – when I was at Barcelona and saw managers here complain about the schedule – it has always been like this. So I never expected anything different.”
City can at least be confident of a good start to that run in. They have not dropped a point away from home against Everton since losing to them 4-0 at Goodison Park in 2017 in Guardiola’s first season in charge.
“Difficult opponents – they always have been,” Guardiola said of Everton “It will be weird because the old Everton stadium was so cool and nice, very British. I loved going there, but I’m looking forward to the new stadium.
“They defend really well. David Moyes knows exactly what to do. The game we played at the Etihad was decided by two or three actions, but at that moment we weren’t good. We’re better now, and hopefully we can use what we are playing for to win, win, win.”
Everton have seen a run of three games without a win dampen hopes of European qualification, though going into Saturday’s fixtures the Toffees were still only three points behind sixth-placed Brighton and Hove Albion.
Moyes’ men have lost successive games to 90th-minute goals, with Liverpool and West Ham netting late on to claim 2-1 wins.
“I think it’s important for us to see where we went wrong, just because there’s four games coming up and it’s important that we don’t let it happen again,” defender Jake O’Brien told Everton’s official website.
“But it’s important, as well, not to dwell on it and to go into the games full of confidence and knowing that we can get points.
“Obviously, they’re [City] a top team and it’s going to be a difficult game, but we’ve been in this position before where we’ve come up against top opposition and we’ve come away on the good side. That’s what we’re looking to do again.
“Especially at Hill Dickinson with the fans behind us, it’ll be important they get behind us again like they’ve always done and we come away with the three points.”
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Team news for Everton v Manchester City
Everton striker Beto has been passed fit after going through the concussion protocol. Jarrad Branthwaite (thigh) is expected to miss the rest of the season along with Jack Grealish (foot).
City midfielder Rodri (groin) faces a late fitness test, while Ruben Dias (hamstring) and Josko Gvardiol (shin) remain out.
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