Differing Preparations, Similar Ambitions

Preview: Manchester City - Everton

Manchester City host Everton fresh from having 15 days of rest. The FA Cup and European competition have come and gone since City registered a shock 2-1 upset over Manchester United two weeks ago, while during the same time Everton travelled to Norway and back again to dispense of SK Brann in the Uefa Cup.

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How the differing preparations will affect the game is hard to call. Sven-Goran Eriksson may well have fancied the games to roll-on thick and fast following his team’s triumph over their fierce local rivals, so as to make the most of the immediate feel-good factor. Then again, he may well have appreciated the extra time afforded him so that he could fine-tune his side’s patterns of playing football, and ingrain new January signing Benjani into the style of the team.

David Moyes, on the other hand, won’t mind when the games come or how frequently, in-fact he pointed out before the mid-week win over Brann that he would welcome 20-odd games from now until the end of the season as it would mean he would have reached the Uefa Cup final. The Scot wasn’t always this way. In previous seasons his grumpiness graced pre and post-match interviews more often than not, but the scintillating form the Toffees have displayed so far this season has turned Moyes’ frown up-side down.

To be more specific, the Toffees are the third highest team in the in-form table from the Premiership, having won all six games in 2008, making them the favourites for the coveted fourth Champions League finishing spot.

All-in-all, Monday’s fixture promises to be a great game. Not many are expecting fireworks like a clash between United and Arsenal, but the two teams - unlike in past years - will approach this game full of confidence, in-form and willing to play
attacking football. Which should set-us up for an exciting tie that will have extra meaning for the European qualification positions - a tussle that seems to get tighter every passing week.

Now that Liverpool seem to have regained their footing after a recent stumble, Everton will have a real fight on their hands for fourth position. They will still want to qualify for the CL, but with a Uefa Cup campaign to navigate as well they may end up in a fight for the Uefa Cup places, which takes them into direct competition with Manchester City.(Source: Goal.com)