Evertonvs.Man City

The Citizens enter this contest on the back of securing a 5-2 comeback victory against Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium last weekend.

Phil Foden was a notable absentee from City's matchday squad as the attacker was unable to recover in time from a foot injury sustained in the Manchester derby a week earlier.

Goalkeeper Ederson provided a record-extending seventh Premier League assist against Crystal Palace, but he was forced off in the final 20 minutes after aggravating a groin problem.

Guardiola has since confirmed that Ederson will miss this weekend's trip to Merseyside, but he has delivered a positive update on the fitness of both Foden and Manuel Akanji.

Akanji has missed Man City's last 11 games in all competitions since undergoing surgery on an abductor injury in mid-February, but both he and Foden have returned to training this week.

Pep gives latest Man City injury update ahead of Everton trip

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Guardiola said: "Phil came back Thursday and today's training session since the action at Old Trafford. Manu, yes, [he's had] two or three training sessions with us. I see him moving really well."

Guardiola has not revealed whether Foden or Akanji will be involved against Everton, but the fact that they have both taken part in team training this week suggests that will be in contention to travel with the matchday squad to Goodison Park.

Discussing Ederson's availability, Guardiola said: "[He's] not ready for tomorrow. I don't know [when he will be available]. For the game he is not ready."

Meanwhile, Guardiola has also provided an update on the fitness of former Everton man John Stones (thigh), Nathan Ake (foot) and Erling Haaland (ankle) who continue to recover from injury.

"[Stones and Ake are] Getting better but not yet [back]," said Guardiola. "[Haaland is] not training either. The next games he won't be ready."

Ballon d'Or winner Rodri also remains sidelined as he continues to build up his fitness in individual training after more than seven months out with an ACL injury.

Guardiola: 'Everton, Aston Villa games are massively important'

Guardiola is now preparing his Man City side for two "massively important" fixtures against Everton and Aston Villa, as the Citizens endeavour to secure Champions League qualification for next season.

"Goodison Park is so special like all traditional stadiums in England," said the Catalan coach. "When you go to Fulham, or Villa Park, stadiums like these, you feel the atmosphere is special. But clubs grow and I'm pretty sure their new stadium will be nicer in terms of being maybe more comfortable and it's a nice place to go - a difficult one, of course - but a nice place to go to.

"Sean Dyche made an incredible job; I don't forget how Sean took over in that moment, a difficult position, and avoided relegation, but the impact of David [Moyes], for his experience, an incredible job, at West Ham too, all his career. He's done an unbelievable job in terms of results, the patterns are so clear, so difficult to handle. It's an important week for us."

"I don't think it's a bad thing to be fighting to qualify for the Champions League," Guardiola added. "You could be in a very, very lower position in the Premier League if you have done few good things than we have done in these four, five months.

"We could be 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th! I don't have any doubts of that. It's in our hands, and of course Goodison Park and Villa is massively important. We don't have much time."

Man City currently sit fifth in the top-flight table, just one point above both Chelsea and Aston Villa in sixth and seventh respectively, and just two points behind Nottingham Forest in fourth with six games left to play.

Written by

Oliver Thomas