Manchester City return to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon when they host Everton at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side went into the international break on a high following a 1-0 win at Brentford, their fifth victory in seven games across all competitions.
After suffering back-to-back league defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion in August, City appear to have stabilised.
The champions are unbeaten in 16 league meetings with Everton since 2017, but Guardiola will be aware that the Toffees under David Moyes look rejuvenated.
The Merseyside club sit just two points behind City in the table and have lost only two of their last 10 league games, a record that highlights their progress.
City’s biggest weapon is Erling Braut Haaland. The Norwegian striker has scored 21 goals in 12 appearances for club and country this season.
He leads the Golden Boot race with nine in seven Premier League matches.
Guardiola, who recently secured his 250th league win as City boss, insisted in his press conference that his side are improving.
“I see things that we are doing much better than last season and in every game,” he said.
“There is the margin that we can do better in many aspects, and that gives me the energy that it’s not job done. It’s completely unfinished business. That’s why I am here.”
His squad remains short of full strength, with Rodri unavailable due to a hamstring issue and Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Abdukodir Khusanov still being monitored.
However, Rayan Cherki could return to the fold after recovering from a thigh injury, while Jeremy Doku is expected to start on the left wing.
Everton arrive in Manchester buoyed by a dramatic 2-1 win over Crystal Palace before the break, secured by late heroics from Jack Grealish, who is ineligible to face his parent club.
The Toffees’ improvement has been built on defensive stability and sharper transitions, with Iliman Ndiaye emerging as a creative spark in attack.
Moyes will look to exploit City’s occasional lapses in midfield without Rodri, knowing this is the kind of test that reveals how far his side have come.
