Daniel O’Sullivan

Many eyebrows were raised when the blue half of Manchester completed a £47.5 million, six-year deal for the 22-year-old.

The England international was, until the latter part of last season, a mainstay in an Everton defence which shipped 55 goals. Only the bottom five conceded more.

However the Barnsley youngster has impressed for both club and country since his big money move.
“I’m under the best manager there is and I’m just really enjoying myself,” he told reporters.

“It’s nice to be settled and enjoying my football, the new experience, playing in the Champions League and all the things you dream about when you start playing football.”

The Citizens top the table after taking 18 of a possible 21 points, while Everton are exceeding expectations and lie in fifth with 14 points.

Stones’ former employers have also made some acquisitions of their own. Namely, Ronald Koeman.
The Toffees’ manager was quite the center back himself in his day, registering 239 goals throughout an illustrious playing career. He remains the highest scoring defender in history.

Coincidentally, Koeman was Guardiola’s mentor during the Spaniard’s rise to prominence with the Blaugrana.

“I spent several years with Pep in hotel rooms before every game, every trip – in pre-season, in Europe, you name it,” reminisces Koeman.
"Pep was a fantastic guy. He was eager to learn, he wanted to know everything.”

Friendships will be put aside for 90 minutes as each manager seeks to orchestrate a winning performance.

Guardiola’s side are unbeaten at the Etihad since he took charge. In their three home games they have scored nine goals, conceding two.

However Manchester City’s Champions League draw to Celtic was followed up by their first Premier League loss to Pochettino’s Spurs.

Aguero and co. face an Everton team boasting the league’s second sturdiest defence. The Toffees have conceded just five goals, bettered only by Tottenham’s three.

Koeman’s first league defeat of the season came away at Bournemouth. The following game resulted in a home draw against Pardew’s unpredictable Palace.

Both clubs are therefore in the midst of their longest winless streaks under this season’s new regimes.

The League’s joint highest goalscorers (18) enter the fray as heavy favourites but Guardiola may shuffle his pack in preparation for the Nou Camp.