Man City V Everton - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.Pellegrini hopes City run continuesManchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes his team may have clicked into gear but is setting no targets - other than to keep winning.City have overcome the sticky spell they hit in October and November which saw them win just one in six at one stage by putting together a run of four successive victories.The last three games of that sequence, starting with a dramatic last-gasp 3-2 win over Bayern Munich, have come in exhilarating fashion, evoking memories of some of last season's best performances.The champions still trail Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea by six points but Pellegrini is not worrying about that just yet.The Chilean said: "We are not thinking about the six points Chelsea are in front, we are thinking about trying to continue with the performance we did last week to add the most amount of points in the first round (of fixtures)."We will see on January 1 what is the distance between Chelsea and our team, but the only way is to continue winning."City's last two games have seen them ease through a potentially difficult game at Southampton 3-0 and thrash Sunderland 4-1.Pellegrini said: "I think it is similar in the way we played last season, not the complete season, but especially from November until the end of the season, when we played in a high level."I think we are returning to our normal performance, that is very important."In football you never know (what makes the difference) - just as one thing makes a switch on or off."I think the draw that we had with CSKA Moscow was a difficult moment for the team and in that moment we started losing, though we were not playing bad."After that game we lost against Newcastle, we lost against the Russian team here and against West HamIt was not a good moment."But maybe after we beat Bayern Munich, the switch changed again and we started playing in the way we normally do."City's next outing sees them host Everton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and Pellegrini is expecting a tough contest despite the Merseysiders' recent underwhelming form.The Toffees, who finished fifth last season, are currently labouring in 11th in the table and there was booing as they were held to a 1-1 home draw by struggling Hull in midweek.Pellegrini said: "It is difficult for me to say the reasons why they are playing that way."I am sure that against our team here they will be a very strong team, so it is very important not to think about the weaknesses they have shown in the last week and think about the potential they have as a team."It is a difficult game because normally the teams of Roberto Martinez play very well."The game comes four days before City's decisive Champions League Group E game at Roma, where a positive result could see Pellegrini's men through to the last 16.Pellegrini insists that crucial fixture will not affect his thinking this weekend.He said: "We have to try to continue winning in the Premier League to discount points on the leaders
We are just thinking about Everton, not the Champions League or Roma
After the game we have four days to think about the next game."Despite that, neither captain Vincent Kompany nor David Silva will feature against Everton as Pellegrini saves them for a potential return against Roma.Playmaker Silva has missed the last seven games with a knee injury but is thought to be close to returning, while Kompany was ruled out of the Sunderland trip with a hamstring injury.Asked if the pair will travel to the Italian capital, Pellegrini said at a press conference: "It is possible
We don't know how much of (a) possibility it is but it is possible."Vincent is not in the squad list tomorrow, he is working
Maybe we will have a last test with him on Monday or Tuesday to decide."Other positive news for City is that striker Edin Dzeko and defender Aleksandar Kolarov have recovered from their calf problems and are available.Forward Stevan Jovetic will be rested as a precaution after a knock in midweek but in Sergio Aguero, who has 19 goals for the season, City have one of the country's most in-form players.Pellegrini said: "Sergio is part of the team
It is very important for him, and in the way this team play, to continue in his high performance because he is a player that makes the difference."Everton boss Roberto Martinez feels his side need to "sharpen up" but insists there should not be too negative a view taken of how they have been faring recently.Martinez was disappointed the Toffees were held to a 1-1 Barclays Premier League home draw by Hull on Wednesday, a game which they initially dominated before showing some defensive sloppiness and fading as time went on.Everton have had Europa League football to deal with this term as well as several injuries, and their manager admitted tiredness had crept in during the midweek match.The Merseysiders are seven points off the Premier League's top four in 11th place and Wednesday's result means they have won only one of their last five top-flight fixtures.But prior to a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham last Sunday, Martinez's men were unbeaten in eight games in all competitions, collecting 11 domestic points from the 15 on offer within that period.And the Spaniard said of his team: "It is a bit of everything - it is not just about scoring more goals, or defending better."Overall, we just need to be a bit more aware of our performances and the games we are involved in, and maybe sharpen up our performances, making sure we find a way to collect all three points."We want to win every game, and don't shy away from that."But I think it is important to look at the performances, and stats are a little bit confusing."I wouldn't be too concerned about looking at it as we have only won once in five - I could say we only lost once in the last 10
I'm not too relaxed, but that is all I'm saying."Have we got all the points we deserve? Probably not, and we need to address that."We are obviously disappointed we had a few draws where we should have won, and a game we lost where we should have got something."But the margins are very small."Martinez has no doubt Everton will particularly need to be on their toes in Saturday's Premier League game against second-placed reigning champions City, whose 4-1 victory at Sunderland on Wednesday was their fourth in a row in all competitions and saw their striker Sergio Aguero take his tally for the season to 19 goals."Aguero is a phenomenal talent - one of those players who can single-handedly win a game," Martinez said."We have to be very aware tomorrow
I think City are now playing their best football of this campaign
They are playing with real flair and swagger."Everton have an in-form frontman themselves in Romelu Lukaku, his strike against Hull being his seventh goal of 2014-15 and his third in four matches.Both Lukaku and midfielder Ross Barkley have been showing promising signs of late after slow starts to the season following World Cup action with Belgium and England respectively, the latter due to a knee injury.Although impressing, Barkley is not hitting the back of the net, with only one goal to his name in his last 23 appearances for club and country and none this term.But, once again questioning what should be made of statistics, Martinez has emphasised that he sees Barkley as a natural goalscorer.Regarding the star who turned 21 on Friday and who has been reported to be a City transfer target, Martinez said: "He is a goalscorer - he has the instinct for it and the talent in the final third to be really dangerous."I don't look at the stats in that way - I look at the fact he is now fully fit and has been consistently strong for a while."He has played a big role recently, and slowly he is finding his best level."Everton are set to have Antolin Alcaraz back available for Saturday's game, the defender poised for a return to action after missing six fixtures due to a shoulder problem.Martinez does not expect Steven Naismith, James McCarthy (both hamstring) or Darron Gibson (knee) to be ready to make their comebacks this weekend, but Arouna Kone and Bryan Oviedo may feature as their return to fitness continues.What the manager has confirmed is that he intends to start Kone next Thursday in the Europa League home encounter with FK Krasnodar.The forward has not played a first-team match since October 2013 due to a knee injury
Source : PA
Source: PA