Manchester City kick off the Boxing Day action in the Premier League this year as they host Everton at the Etihad Stadium.

The champions were beaten 2-1 at Aston Villa last time out to leave them on a run of nine defeats in 12 games in all competitions, with only one victory to their name since October 26.

Injury problems have caused a real issue for Pep Guardiola as he attempts to navigate the trickiest period of his managerial career, and City would well be looking light on defensive options on Thursday.

Everton, meanwhile, are largely operating with a clean bill of health and managed to hold Chelsea to a goalless draw on December 22. Having lost all but one of their past 14 games with City, could the Toffees get another positive result?

The Sporting News looks at the latest team news and confirmed lineups.

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Man City vs. Everton lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news

City are without Ruben Dias and John Stones, meaning Nathan Ake (hamstring) is the latest man to be haphazardly rushed back into a light and creaking backline.

Goalkeeper Ederson missed the Villa Park trip — Guardiola said he did “not feel good” — and Matheus Nunes is also still out. They are joined on the sidelines by Kyle Walker (illness) and Jack Grealish (knock).

Kevin De Bruyne did not get off the bench last time out and is among the substitutes again, where he and Ilkay Gundogan account for almost all of the senior football experience at Guardiola’s disposla.

Man City lineup (3-2-4-1, right to left): Ortega (GK) — Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol — Lewis, Kovacic — Savinho, Silva, Foden, Doku — Haaland

Man City subs: Carson (GK), Brits (GK), De Bruyne, Gundogan, Simpson-Pusey, Mubama, Alleyne, O’Reilly, McAtee

MORE: All the latest Man City news | Premier League schedule for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings

Sean Dyche said last week that Timothy Iroegbunam and James Garner were “behind the curve” in their recoveries, and neither are likely to return until mid-January.

Dwight McNeil sat out the Chelsea draw with a knee issue, and is absent once more.. Armando Broja is back on the bench after being ineligible to face his parent club last time out.

Ashley Young is banned after collecting his fifth yellow card of the season last time out, meaning a first start since August for club captain Seamus Coleman.

Everton lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Pickford (GK) — Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko — Mangala, Gueye, Doucoure — Harrison, Calvert-Lewin, Ndiaye

Everton subs: Virginia (GK), Patterson, Keane, Beto, O’Brien, Chermiti, Broja, Lindstrom, Armstrong

Man City vs. Everton live stream, TV channel

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