Afternoon all. So, after the third round of the FA Cup, the Premier League has returned this weekend. Here, we will be covering title-hunting champions Manchester City, who face a trip to out of form Everton. Let's hope to football lives up to the expectation!

GAME ON! First of all, thankfully we actually have a game to cover! There was a slight doubt as to whether or not the game would go ahead because of damage to one of the Goodison Park stands, which had been caused by the windy conditions. That's been fixed, though, and the encounter will indeed go ahead. Phew!

And now let's take a look at the team news, starting with the home side...

EVERTON XI: Joel; Baines, Jagielka, Stones, Coleman; Besic, Barry; McGeady, Naismith, Barkley; Lukaku

EVERTON SUBS: Griffiths, Eto'o, Oviedo, Kone, Mirallas, Garbutt, Alcaraz

The big news for Everton is that John Stones is among the starting lineup following a stint on the sidelines with an ankle injury. He will partner Phil Jagielka at the back, while Sylvain Distin has dropped out. Elsewhere, Aiden McGeady has replaced Kevin Mirallas further forward, with Romelu Lukaku featuring as a lone centre-forward. It means that veteran Samuel Eto'o has to settle for a place among the substitutes.

And now for visiting City, who have a couple of welcome returns on the bench...

MAN CITY XI: Hart; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Clichy; Fernando, Fernandinho; Navas, Silva, Nasri; Jovetic

MAN CITY SUBS: Caballero, Kompany, Kolarov, Aguero, Lampard, Sagna, Sinclair

Spotted them?! Of course, it's Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany that are back in the squad following injury layoffs. Incidentally, Aguero injured his knee during the clash between these two clubs earlier in the season. On the pitch, Yaya Toure is on international duty with the Ivory Coast, which means that Fernando and Fernandinho will play in the heart of the midfield. Stevan Jovetic will play as a lone striker, with David Silva, Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas operating behind him.

The Everton dressing room is bound to be massively disappointed to see Aguero back in the City selection. The Argentine has scored a highly impressive 19 goals this term and was in top form when he suffered the injury.

Of course, as well as Aguero, the Everton players (and Man City as well) are going to have to contend with the windy conditions today. It's certainly not a day for lumping balls into the penalty area!

Let's now take a look at what both managers have had to say about this clash in the days leading up to it, starting with Everton's Martinez:

"I think you need to be very good without the ball against them," he added. "I think defending with the ball is as important as defending without. A team like City have great understanding of space; players with the quality of David Silva, Samir Nasri and James Milner are players that can use the space really well and can pull you out of position.

"We are very clear in what we want to achieve. It won't happen overnight, but we set our goals really high and I will never drop those goals. Yes, Manchester City is a huge game, but it is just the next match in the league and we want to be good enough and consistent to achieve something in the league at the end of the season."

Meanwhile, here are the thoughts over visiting boss Pellegrini:

"I think we have a difficult, tough game against rivals Everton. They are not in their best moment, but they are a difficult team to play, with a good manager. So, if we want to continue in the same way, we must play a very good game. Every game will be a final for all the teams involved in the fight for the title."

VIDEO PREVIEW! Can't make your mind up how this game will finish? Let the Sports Mole Sofa team of Matt Law and Barney Corkhill help you!

What's riding on this game for both teams, then? Well, from an Everton point of view, they are actually just four points above the drop zone! Who would have thought that they would be in that situation at the start of the season?! Of course, they will be looking upwards, but a win today will only lift them up to 12th, providing that Aston Villa fail to beat Leicester City.

As for City, they have done ever so well in recent weeks to peg back leaders Chelsea. Indeed, going into this clash, they are level on points with the West Londoners, with exactly the same goal difference as well. A big victory today could seem them take top spot, although that is dependent on how Chelsea fare at home to Newcastle. Remember City fans, Newcastle were the first side to beat Chelsea this season!

STAT! Avert your eyes for a moment all you Everton fans! Here's a damning statistic courtesy of Opta.

On a more positive note, Everton battled back to earn a replay against West Ham United during the week. According to former Toffees skipper Phil Neville, that shows the dressing room is united:

"There's been a lot of attention on whether things aren't right inside the Everton dressing room, but you don't fight until the last minute like they did against West Ham in the FA Cup if you have poor team spirit," he told BBC Sport this afternoon.

PREDICTION: Right, the chaps have had their say in the video below, but I'll have a stab at guessing the outcome as well. Everton really are on a poor run of form, having lost six of their last eight Premier League matches. It's hard to see them reversing that today, although they may very well make it difficult for City. Also, there is a good chance that Aguero will have some sort of say from the bench. Let's say 2-1 to the visiting champions, with Aguero netting the winner.

Before we get underway, let's quickly reflect on what happened when the sides met at the Etihad Stadium back in December. It was a close game, although City always seemed in command. The game was won from the penalty spot by Yaya Toure, who remember does not play today because he is at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Right, the players have made their way out of the tunnel and the handshakes are taking place. It's extremely windy on Merseyside and it will be interesting to see if that hampers the quality of the game. Let's hope not.

KICKOFF! Visiting City, who will attack from left to right in the first half, get proceedings underway.

It's been a lively start here and in particular from Everton's Ross Barkley, who is playing in his preferred role behind the centre-forward today. He's getting plenty of touches of the ball is looking to make things happen whenever he can.

First decent piece of football from City and unsurprisingly Silva is heavily involved as he drifts inside from the right touchline with the ball at his feet. He then threads a clever pass through for Navas, who reaches the byline. However, Baines does really well to block the cross.

CHANCE! Again Silva is busy pulling the strings as he picks up Jovetic, who tries his luck from inside the area. His effort is always rising, though, and ends up flying well over the crossbar.

CHANCE! Huge opportunity for City, who should be 1-0 up. Jagielka is caught in possession by Silva, who instantly puts Navas through on goal. Yet, with just Robles to beat, the Spanish winger drags his effort well wide of the target. He simply has to score that. It's a massive let off for Jagielka and Everton.

Everton's passes aren't finding their target right now. Moments ago Barry gave possession straight to Fernando inside the Everton half, but luckily for the hosts, they weren't punished. It seems like only a matter of time before they are, though.

CHANCE! Everton only have City's wastefulness to thank for them still being level in this game. Again Silva does well to pick out Jovetic on the edge of the area, who has the time and space to shoot. There's plenty of power on his strike, but it skids a yard wide of the goal. The hosts are leading a charmed life at present.

Ouch! Zabaleta has gone down clutching his knee following a crunching challenge with his former teammate Barry. The Argentine is up and back on the pitch now, but he's still limping.

Everton cannot live with Silva right now, although, in fairness, not many teams could with the Spaniard in this form. He's just danced into the Everton box and drilled a dangerous low cross in for Fernando, but he fails to make contact and the home side scramble clear.

Fantastic work from Besic as City break with the speed of Navas. He picks out Silva, who is advancing into the area. However, the Everton midfielder does well to slide in and then also get up in time to win the second challenge. It's all City, but they cannot make the breakthrough.

Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, here is what Phil Neville has had to say:

"You can sense the nerves and tension among the home supporters and that's filtering through to the pitch. There needs to be a collective spirit around the club to try to lift them out of this slump they are in."

Everton cannot get out of their own half at present. City have got them pegged in and are almost toying with them. On the rare occasions that the home side do get out, there isn't enough support for Lukaku and he loses possession. It's like a vicious circle.

CROSSBAR! At last Everton mount an attack and they are so close to going in front! Lukaku gets in behind the City rearguard and strikes powerfully for goal, but Hart stands firm. Then, the rebound breaks for Coleman, who sees his lashed shot beat Hart, but not the crossbar. So close!

There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.

There goes the whistle on a goalless first half, but no idea how! City have created plenty of chances, while Everton have rattled the woodwork. It's certainly been a better game then the scoreline suggests!

Well, for 43 minutes, Everton were battered! They struggled to get out of their own half and couldn't cope with the pressure that was being placed on them by the City players. However, that double chance in the closing stages may well have done wonders for their confidence. We shall see, but they've certainly got to be better on the ball and also get more support up to Lukaku, who is getting frustrated.

As for Pellegrini in the City dressing room, he's bound to be bitterly frustrated that this game remains 0-0. His side have created numerous good chances and openings, but either their finishing or the final pass has been poor. They were then given the warning right at the end of the half that they need to take their opportunities, because Everton could steal the points. It could well be an afternoon for Mr Aguero!

We've heard from Phil Neville on BBC Sport, but here he sums the game up nicely on Twitter:

MATCH ACTION! And before we get back underway, here's some action from the clash as Baines tries to block a Jovetic shot.

RESTART! Hosting Everton get us back underway at Goodison Park with the score level at 0-0.

BOOKING! Everton have started this half well and Mangala goes into the book for bringing down Lukaku as the striker looked to break into the City area. Much better from the Toffees.

Not good signs for Everton as Aguero comes out of the dugout and starts to warm-up down the touchline. It might not be long until the Argentine is introduced into the action.

Lukaku is much more involved in this second half and he's giving Mangala a torrid time. The Belgian bursts beyond the City centre-back and then drills in a dangerous cross, which Hart does ever so well to turn behind for a corner, which comes to nothing. Much better from the home side.

UPDATE! Not good news for City I'm afraid because Chelsea have opened up a 2-0 lead over Newcastle thanks to goals from Oscar and Diego Costa. As it stands, City are two points behind Jose Mourinho's men.

BOOKING! It's the first caution of the clash for Everton and it's deserved. Stones is the offender as he needlessly goes ploughing through the back of Silva on the touchline.

MAN CITY SUB: It's Aguero time! The returning striker has replaced Jovetic, who is not amused to have been replaced.

BOOKING! Second caution for City as it's blatant as Fernandinho trips up Coleman as the Everton full-back looked to advance towards the right byline.

DISALLOWED GOAL! The ball is in the City net and Everton celebrate, but the referee has seen an infringement. It's a Baines cross that Hart goes to collect, but under pressure from Naismith, the City keeper drops the ball. Jagielka pokes it in, but the referee blows for a foul on Hart. It's soft, but goalkeepers tend to get too much protection don't they?!

Everton may have been better in the second half, but City have remained dangerous and now they lead. It will be no surprise to learn that Silva was heavily involved as his quick feet caused problems and then his shot inside the area deflected to Fernandinho, who nodded the ball inside the post from close range. It's a classic counter-attack from the away side, although Everton are not happy because they feel that Zabaleta used his hand to win back the ball from Lukaku further up the pitch. Replays show that the ball did strike the full-back's hand, but it wasn't intentional. Either way, City lead.

That's how you respond to falling a goal behind! Baines is the creator as he swings over a dangerous free-kick from the left wing. Hart races off his line, but his best Superman impression counts for little as Naismith rises highest to beat the City keeper to the ball, which he glances into the net. Goodison Park erupts!

EVERTON SUB: Incidentally, between those two goals, Everton boss Martinez brought on Mirallas in place of the quiet McGeady.

MAN CITY SUB: Another goal threat enters the action for City as Lampard takes the place of goalscorer Fernandinho. He's scored plenty of goals against Everton in the past, can he do it again?

SAVE! Lively stuff from Mirallas as he gets inside the City area and then drops a shoulder to beat Mangala. However, his shot is weak and easy for Hart to collect. Everton are ending this encounter the stronger of the two sides.

SAVE! He's been quiet today, but Nasri shows just how dangerous he can be as he shifts the ball on to his stronger right foot 20 yards from goal. His low shot squirms through a host of bodies, but Everton goalkeeper Robles sees it all the way and holds at the first attempt.

There will be three minutes of stoppage time at the end of this contest. Will we have a winner?

MAN CITY SUB: A very late change for City as Nasri trudges off and is replaced by Kolarov.

There goes the final whistle and what an entertaining encounter that was. City will be disappointed that they didn't convert more of their chances, but Everton rallied in the second half and will feel that they were worth the point. The draw means that City are now two points behind leaders Chelsea, while the hosts are up to 12th.

That's all we have time for from Goodison Park. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and be sure to stick with Sports Mole throughout the evening for reaction, analysis and player ratings of this clash and all the other Premier League encounters. Until next time, goodbye.