Predicted Starting Line-Up: Everton vs Manchester City (Premier League)

City must now bring their focus back to the Premier League title race as they travel to the Hill Dickinson stadium to face David Moyes’ Everton.

Everton currently sit in 11th place, just two points off the final qualification spot for European competitions next season. They enter Monday’s fixture having failed to win their last three games – for them, three points on Monday could be absolutely crucial if they are to secure a place in the top seven.

Manchester City head to Merseyside having won their last six matches in all competitions, leaving them three points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal, who have played an extra game and will kick off before Guardiola and co again this weekend.

Here is how we predict Manchester City will line up on Monday night!

Predicted XI

Gianluigi Donnarumma will reclaim his spot between the sticks for Monday night’s fixture. Whilst some will be quick to point out the occasional slip-up, the Italian has been absolutely crucial in Manchester City’s title race efforts this season.

Registering 13 clean sheets in 30 Premier League appearances, Donnarumma is averaging close to a shutout every other game, underlining his growing importance within Guardiola’s system.

He sits just three behind Arsenal’s David Raya in the Golden Glove standings and another commanding display here would not only edge him closer to that individual honour but could also play a decisive role in keeping City firmly on track in the title race.

“Extraordinary” – Pep Guardiola hails Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov amid personnel woes in defence

In a recent press conference, Guardiola lauded Matheus Nunes as “one of the best right-backs in the world” and on current form, that praise is far from misplaced. Over the course of the season, Nunes has made himself borderline irreplaceable for the Blues.

There was a time when Manchester City fans were crying out for a direct, like-for-like replacement for Kyle Walker after he left in 2025; it may be the case now that City need a deputy to Nunes, who is one of the first names on Guardiola’s teamsheet these days.

Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guehi have formed a formidable centre-half partnership in the latter stages of the season, a camaraderie so good that it’s almost inconceivable that the two had never played together before January. Both were rested over the weekend, which no doubt they’ll appreciate as a tough battle lies in store on Monday night.

Everton’s Beto has scored four goals and an assist across his last three games – including a brace against Chelsea – so the defensive duo will have their work cut out for them if City are to come away from the Hill Dickinson Stadium unscathed.

Nico O’Reilly was deployed in midfield against Burnley but a return to the left-back role appears the most likely outcome for the clash with Everton.

Rayan Aït-Nouri has featured in the last two outings and added a clear attacking spark down the flank, yet it is O’Reilly’s composure in key moments – both defensively and in the final third – that has consistently earned Guardiola’s trust in the bigger games this season.

The 21-year-old has developed rapidly since breaking into the first-team in 2025 and now looks every bit a player the manager can depend on when the stakes are at their highest, with many crying out for the Englishman to start for his nation at the FIFA World Cup.

Hugo Viana faces major Nico Gonzalez dilemma as clubs line up for Manchester City midfielder

With Rodri nursing a calf injury, Nico Gonzalez could get the nod at the heart of midfield on Monday night. After all, it was the 24-year-old’s wonderstrike that secured the win against Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final.

While both Mateo Kovacic and Tijjani Reijnders put in admirable displays at Wembley, Nico looks a far more natural replacement for Rodri in his absence.

Bernardo Silva is almost a guaranteed starter in his final six games for Manchester City. The 31-year-old Portuguese brings a level of passion and energy that few players in any sport could match and that dedication to the cause is exactly what has made him a favourite of both fans and Guardiola during an illustrious nine-year spell at the Etihad Stadium.

It goes without saying that Bernardo will be more desperate than anyone to end his Manchester City tenure with a seventh Premier League title and very possibly, a second domestic treble.

Rayan Cherki has won himself a starting role in recent months, having registered 14 goal contributions in 28 appearances in his debut Premier League campaign. The Frenchman has spent portions of the season on the bench but with the form that he’s in, the 22-year-old may now be simply impossible to drop for Guardiola.

Of course – with Phil Foden, Kovacic and Reijnders – Guardiola has plenty of options in the creative midfield area but for now, Cherki is doing more than enough to keep himself at the top of that list.

Jeremy Doku may have only come off the bench against Southampton but his contribution was absolutely vital in setting up an FA Cup final against Chelsea. The Belgian’s sheer pace and power, coupled with his technical ability, proved too much for the Saints defence to handle in the final stages. His involvement on Monday night feels like a certainty.

Erling Haaland drops huge hint on Manchester City future amid ongoing squad refresh

Up front, who else but Erling Haaland? It feels as if Haaland has rediscovered his form at exactly the right time, with five goals in as many games in all competitions. Even when he isn’t able to contribute to the scoresheet, Haaland’s hold up play and ability to draw attention from the opposition makes him invaluable to the squad at a time like this.

While some have been critical of Antoine Semenyo‘s lack of end product in recent fixtures, it’s clear to see the impact he has had in the title race. With five goals and an assist in 12 Premier League outings for City since joining from Bournemouth in January, Semenyo has enjoyed a very successful start to life at the Etihad Stadium.

It’s hard to see any other option for the time being. Savinho has been largely excellent in his recent performances but Semenyo’s pure goalscoring ability should be enough to earn him the start here.

Starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Nico, Bernardo, Cherki; Doku, Haaland, Semenyo

Substitutes: Trafford, Stones, Ake, Ait-Nouri, Kovacic, Foden, Reijnders, Marmoush, Savinho