Manchester City have the chance to bounce back from their first loss of 2022 with a trip to Everton in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
Pep Guardiola has only every recorded consecutive Premier League defeats twice during his six seasons in England - on both occasions Leicester City were the team that twisted the knife in the second swift loss. However, Guardiola's side have won 18 of their last 19 Premier League matches following a top flight reverse and stand alongside Liverpool atop the table alongside Liverpool. Here's the XI Guardiola may deploy to further enhance his side's bounce-back-ability.
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Wet Headerson ?#ManCity pic.twitter.com/XNOFEBUPDJ
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 17, 2022
Ederson (GK) - The Brazilian international had kept four successive clean sheets for club and country before Tottenham rattled three past him last weekend.
Kyle Walker (RB) - Given his continued absence from Europe, Guardiola may exploit the endless reserves of his full back's recovery speed in domestic competition.
Ruben Dias (CB) - In less than two full seasons at Manchester City, Dias has played in more 5-0 wins (five) than Everton have recorded in their Premier League history (three).
John Stones (CB) - A former Toffee of three-and-a-half years may benefit from the latest spin on Pep's roulette wheel when it comes to selection.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB) - The Ukraine international didn't lose his first Premier League game until his 27th appearance in the competition - two years after his debut.
2. Midfielders
An unstoppable KDB strike! ?#ManCity pic.twitter.com/KIHKt9kYGM
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 19, 2022
Bernardo Silva (CM) - The only Premier League match Bernardo hasn't started this season is the club's only away defeat of the campaign.
Rodri (CM) - Everton are one of nine different teams Rodri has only ever beaten in his fruitful Premier League career (five wins from five).
Kevin De Bruyne (CM) - One more strike would see De Bruyne become the 12th different player to have scored and created at least 50 Premier League goals - but with more assists than goals.
3. Forwards
A special @sterling7 strike! ✨#ManCity pic.twitter.com/MtWlFk1B9C
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 17, 2022
Riyad Mahrez (RW) - The club's top scorer has had a direct contribution to four goals in his last five league appearances against Everton (two goals, two assists).
Phil Foden (ST) - In a move that would echo the actions of his teammate Joao Cancelo, Foden may be afforded the chance to start the next game following the harassment of his family members.
Raheem Sterling (LW) - The former Liverpool forward never lost a Merseyside derby against Everton but had to wait until he joined City to record the first of his six Goodison Park victories.