mancityblues.com

This one could get a bit tasty - one look at an Everton message board underlines just how much the Toffees want to win this encounter - and there are plenty of reasons to suggest that David Moyes will also be winding his troops up a bit more than usual. It's surely fair to say that this will be Mancini's biggest test to date, with Everton looking more like the top 6 outfit they claim to be. Recent solid performances against Arsenal and Chelsea reflect the return of important players for Moyes, and despite losing the likes of Yobo and Yakubu to the African Cup, the good form of Pienaar, Cahill, Saha and Fellaini will make this game a tough and possibly tempestuous affair. Some of the key battles (of which there are many) that will decide this match are as follows -

1. Zabaleta vs Pienaar - this could be a real flashpoint, both players being the fully-committed type. Zaba needs to stay on his feet, and certainly Mancini will have recognized the South African player as one of the main outlets for Everton's attacking forays. De Jong will also need to be watchful - Pienaar often comes infield to combine well with Cahill.

2. Tevez vs Fellaini - two of the most distinctive players in the Premier League will probably lock horns (maybe Fallaini actually has horns - hence the big afro) repeatedly. Fellaini did very well against a typically fluent Arsenal side last weekend, and both he and Tevez will know they've been in a game after the final whistle.

3. Barry vs Cahill - two of the hardest-working midfielders in the league go head-to-head. Whoever wins this battle will go some way to deciding the game.

4. Richards vs Saha/(Vaughan) - a clash of power and pace. Kompany's reading of the game will be crucial in helping Micah here.

5. Garrido vs Osman/Donovan - expect Moyes to target Garrido as a weak point by doubling up on the Spanish left-back. Donovan also possesses pace in abundance, and these issues may influence Mancini to pick Bellamy on the left for his speed and defensive qualities.

6. Bellamy vs Neville - worth the admission money alone!

7. Petrov or SWP vs Baines - I would go with SWP, but whoever gets the nod should contribute to an interesting battle.

8. RSC or Benjani vs Neill/Heitinga - I'd prefer to see Roque start due to his extra height because neither Everton central defender is particularly tall. There are some rumours swirling around that RSC has injured his knee (again) so I'm guessing Benjani will be the player to lead the line for City - that's okay, the Zimbabwean is doing well for us just now.

This promises to be a real old-fashioned English-style game, and it will be really interesting to see how Mancini deals with it. The arrival of Patrick Vieira is an indication that Mancini recognized that the current squad needed that bit of steel and gamesmanship for fixtures such as this one, but I will be surprised to see the veteran start. If we are winning, however, bringing Vieira (if fit) into the game for the final 30 minutes may be a wise move. I'd also take Bellamy off after 65 minutes or so in anticipation of the Cup game against United. The makeshift nature of Everton's central defense could be a weak point - neither Heitinga or Neill are particularly quick or tall. What the Toffees do bring to the table at Goodison is 100% commitment - expect a few yellow cards and even a couple of dismissals for both sides. This is my team for the game -

-----------------Given----------------Bench: Taylor
-----------------------------------------Sylvinho
Zabaleta---Richards---Kompany---Garrido--Boyata
-----------------------------------------Paddy V
-------De Jong -------------Barry--------Robinho
-----------------------------------------Petrov
SWP----------------------------Bellamy --RSC/Benjani
-------------------Tevez--------------
-----------------------------------------
--------------Benjani/RSC---------------

De Jong and Barry will again be asked to shoulder the main burden, perhaps supplemented by Vieira at some point as suggested above in a 4-5-1 if necessary. The more prosaic qualities of SWP and Bellamy suit this game rather than the less defensive attributes of Petrov and Robinho, but using the bench wisely will be important. It is key that Benjani/RSC allow Tevez enough ball to punch through the Everton back-line, and SWP and/or Bellamy will need to support the front two as much as is prudent.