Old friends will meet for the first time as opposing managers at the Etihad on Saturday as Ronald Koeman and Pep Guardiola each attempt to outwit a former Barcelona teammate in the adjacent dugout. The pair won four league titles and one European Cup during their time together in Spain in the early 1990s, but there will be no love lost between the two for 90 minutes this weekend.
An easier match as the league campaign restarts after the latest disruptive international break would be preferable, but an away trip against the league leaders may be the necessary test to spark Everton back to life after failing to fire against so-called lesser teams prior to the break.