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This weekend, the English Premier League will delight its viewers. After the international break, English football fans are eagerly awaiting two great football spectacles - the Liverpool derby and the clash between Manchester City and Tottenham.
"Everton" - "Liverpool" The twelfth round of the English championship will start with the Liverpool derby. At Goodison Park stadium, Roberto Martinez's "Everton" players will challenge Brendan Rodgers' "Liverpool" team.
Recently, the "Toffees" haven't played the most entertaining football and are in 6th place in the league table, but are only 5 points behind league leaders Arsenal, while "Liverpool" players in 2nd place lead their neighbors by just 3 points.
This season, R. Martinez's team has not yet lost at home, but recently the team's attacking line has been struggling - in the last two matches, the opponents' defense was unbeatable.
"Liverpool" players, on the other hand, are not lacking in goals: before the international break, they crushed the Fulham team and scored 8 goals in the last three matches.
In the "Everton" team, two defenders - the debutant Antolin Alcaraz and the defensive sidewalker Tony Hibbert - return to the lineup after injuries. However, R. Martinez emphasized that neither of them is likely to start in the match. Long-term injured players Darren Gibson and Arouna Kone will not be able to help the team.
"Liverpool" also has some losses. Due to a knee injury, the main side defender Jose Enrique will not be able to help the team, as well as forward Iago Aspas and young Sebastian Coates. It is doubtful whether one of the main team's players - Daniel Sturridge - will be able to appear on the pitch, but manager B. Rodgers spoke optimistically about the striker's chances.
This will be the 221st Liverpool derby. The "Liverpool" team has not lost to their neighbors in the Premier League for five consecutive matches, but last season both matches between these teams ended in a draw. The "Reds" lead "Everton" and in the overall history of matches with 88 victories, while the "Toffees" have defeated their opponents 66 times.
"Manchester City" - "Tottenham" After the excitement of the Liverpool derby, the neighbors in the league table will go into battle. On Sunday afternoon, Manuel Pellegrini's "Manchester City" team will host Andre Villas-Boas' "Tottenham" players at home.
Sitting in eighth place in the league table, the "Cityzens" struggle away, but at home they have won all five matches played at the Etihad Stadium. Moreover, the "Manchester City" team this season demonstrates the best attacking play in the league, as they have scored 28 goals and 20 of them at home.
Meanwhile, the "Spurs" team can boast of great defense. A. Villas-Boas' players have only conceded 6 goals this season and are ranked third in this indicator behind the "Southampton" players.
However, the "Tottenham" team is also the least scoring team in the top of the table, so despite a solid defense, the "Spurs" still need to significantly improve their quality of play.
The "Man City" players have a couple of serious absences. Due to an ankle injury, the creative full-back David Silva and team captain Vincent Kompany, who suffered a thigh injury, will not be able to help the team. Forward Stevan Jovetic also cannot escape health problems.
"Spurs" still cannot field left-back Danny Rose. A. Villas-Boas will also have to do without Danish Christian Eriksen.
In the last five meetings at the Etihad Stadium, the hosts won three times, while the "Tottenham" team won twice. In the last ten matches between these teams in the Premier League, a draw was only recorded once, so such a result in this match is unlikely.
