Eight Players Could Miss Man City vs. Everton Clash
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland is expected to be fresh for the weekend clash against Everton after being granted an early release from international duty with Norway. The 25-year-old striker, who recently scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 victory over Israel, was allowed to leave the national camp early, with the Norwegian FA citing his tight match schedule as the reason.
However, both teams face potential absences. Besides Haaland, Alexander Sørloth, Julian Ryerson, and Fredrik Bjørkan were also released early by Norway. Meanwhile, Everton could be without several key players. Jack Grealish, who moved to Everton on loan, is ineligible to play against his parent club. Additionally, updates on the fitness of Jarrad Branthwaite and Merlin Rohl are expected from Everton boss David Moyes at his pre-match press conference. Both players have been nursing injuries.
Haaland has a history with Everton, having been involved in several memorable moments, including scoring in a controversial 1-1 draw and netting two late goals in a subsequent victory. However, he also missed a penalty in their last encounter, which ended in another draw.
Despite Haaland’s availability, City will miss Grealish, whose stoppage-time winner against Crystal Palace secured a win for Moyes’ side before the international break. The match promises to be an intriguing encounter, with both teams potentially missing key players due to various reasons.
