Everything you need to know ahead of the Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday
Manchester City overcame Hoffenheim in their final Champions League group stage game on Wednesday night but the squad has been stretched as a result of a number of injuries.
A first Premier League defeat of the season last weekend against Chelsea ensured that Liverpool would pass City to move into first place in the table.
Manager Pep Guardiola claimed midweek that he only had 15 fit players with the likes of Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Benjamin Mendy all missing out against the Germans.
Speaking on Friday, however, the Catalan coach had some good news.
John Stones came off at half-time against Hoffenheim with his place at right-back going to Kyle Walker in the second half. Guardiola revealed that Stones had trained on Friday but was still a doubt to face his former club.
Danilo wasn’t fit to the start in midweek either, though there are fewer selection difficulties for Guardiola further up the field.
Aguero and De Bruyne trained without pain ahead of the Toffees clash and are likely to feature on Saturday, handing the Citizens a much needed boost. Fernandinho, meanwhile, could also return to the lineup.
Elsewhere, playmaker David Silva could well be out for three weeks with a hamstring problem while Mendy won’t be back until February at the earliest.
Substitute goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is a long-term absentee.
No player is suspended.
While Guardiola had injuries to contend with midweek he also rested the likes of Walker and Fabian Delph at the outset. They could well come back into the fold.
He has coped with the absence of De Bruyne quite well all season with Bernardo Silva deputising productively.
Guardiola also has options in attack with Leroy Sane impressing in recent weeks and taking the starting berth from Riyad Mahrez.
If Fernandinho doesn’t make it then Ilkay Gundogan could well play in the anchor role again.
Phil Foden started on Wednesday but is likely to find himself back on the bench on Saturday.
Stones’ withdrawal was no big deal according to Guardiola but City’s central defensive area is one part of the pitch where they are well stocked.
Gabriel Jesus has only scored once in the Premier League all season and his place up front will go to Aguero, if fit, after missing the last four games through injury.
James McCarthy is a long-term absentee with a cruciate knee ligament injury.
Idrissa Gana Gueye was replaced in the draw against Watford on Monday night and could well be out.
Kick off is 12:30pm GMT (07:30am ET) on Saturday. The game will be shown in the UK on Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Ultra HD. It will be shown live in the US on NBC Sports Live, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, SiriusXM FC, UNIVERSO, NBCSN, NBCSports.com and UNIVERSO NOW.