Pep Guardiola has spoken of the ‘huge respect’ he has for a key Everton figure ahead of Saturday’s match.
Manchester City can stretch their domestic unbeaten run to eight games and – for a couple of hours at least – go to the top of the table with a victory over the Toffees.
With City in the early kick-off, they could leapfrog leaders Liverpool by picking up all three points as Jurgen Klopp’s side don’t play against Burnley until 3pm.
It will be Guardiola’s 18th meeting with Everton manager Sean Dyche and he is yet to lose a single one.
In 17 games so far, Guardiola’s side have won 16 and drawn just once – to Burnley in 2018 – with an aggregate score of 52-6.
But Guardiola moved to praise Dyche ahead of his 300th game as a Premier League manager.
Pep Guardiola praises Sean Dyche
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Guardiola said: “First of all congratulations, we face each other many, many times.
“At Burnley especially, now at Goodison Park. So Congratulations. When you achieve these numbers [300 games] it is because you’ve been so consistent.
“I have a huge respect for Sean and for the work he has done in his career. The way he plays he believes it, with the players he has at his disposal so… focus on what you have to do.”
Pep Guardiola’s great run against Sean Dyche should continue
Guardiola was quick to play down any talk of his impeccable record in matches against Dyche, the manager he has more wins over than any other.
But it would be very surprising if that record didn’t continue on Saturday with City picking up a comfortable win, even if the Toffees did get a draw at the Etihad last season.
City are just finding their merciless streak once more and the returns of Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland look set to take them up another level.
Everton, meanwhile, could be without four key players in Amadou Onana, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Arnaut Danjuma and Andre Gomes.
On top of that, Dyche won’t even be in the dug out as he serves a one-game touchline suspension after picking up three yellow cards.
