- Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish will play no part in Man City’s clash with Everton
- Walker was dropped to the bench for City’s last match against Aston Villa
- Grealish played the full 90 minutes against Villa, but misses out this time
Manchester City captain Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish have missed out on the matchday squad for today’s Premier League clash with Everton.
Walker was named on the bench for Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa before replacing the injured John Stones at half time.
But this time he is not even in the squad as City look to halt their run of nine defeats in their last 12 matches.
He is joined on the absentee list by Grealish, who played the full 90 minutes against his former club as he was booed by Villa fans on Saturday.
City have stated that Walker is unwell, while Grealish has been deemed short of match fitness.
It is a double blow for Pep Guardiola, with his team down in seventh heading into this afternoon’s game.
Kyle Walker has not been included in Man City’s squad to face Everton due to feeling unwell
Jack Grealish will also not feature this afternoon as he is struggling with his fitness
It is a double blow for Pep Guardiola who has admitted he wants to strengthen his squad
He is already having to cope without star midfielder Rodri, while Stones, Ruben Dias, Ederson and Matheus Nunes are also currently on the treatment table.
Guardiola has admitted that the Premier League champions will be looking to dip into the transfer market next month to strengthen their squad.
‘If we can, we have to add players,’ Guardiola told Amazon Prime Video ahead of the Boxing Day match at the Etihad.
‘We struggle in the back, in the middle. Saying that, I don’t know if it’s going to happen because the transfer window in winter time is not easy. But everyone is aware. I think even the players ask “We are going to add some players, please!?”‘
There is some good news for City as Nathan Ake makes a welcome return to the starting XI, with the Dutch international set to be joined by Rico Lewis, Manuel Akanji and Josko Gvardiol in defence.
Bernardo Silva will captain the team in the absence of Walker, and Guardiola has picked Phil Foden and Mateo Kovacic to play alongside him in midfield, with Savinho, Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland making up the front three.
After an injury-hit campaign, Kevin De Bruyne is only on the bench, while Ilkay Gundogan is also only named among the substitutes.
A win for City at the Etihad would lift them into the top five ahead of their rivals playing later in the day or tomorrow.
However, getting past Everton is unlikely to be straightforward given their current form and the Toffees’ recent resilient displays.
Sean Dyche’s side have held title contenders Arsenal and Chelsea to goalless draws in their last two outings.