MANCHESTER (Sporting Alert) — Joe Hart remains the starting goalkeeper for Manchester City despite doubts about his place for today’s English Premier League game with Everton at Etihad Stadium.
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Hart had been heavily criticized for his poor performance in the 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night and Manuel Pellegrini has cast dark clouds over whether the England No. 1 would have retained his place in the starting team.
However, the Chilean has decided to stick with his first choice, but did make three changes to the personnel covering him at the back.
Pablo Zabaleta, Joleon Lescott and Aleksandar Kolarov all come into the defense, while Alvaro Negredo, who scored the only goal for Manchester Cit in the Bayern Munich defeat starts in the attack alongisde Sergio Aguero.
Meanwhile, for Everton, the one undefeated side left in the EPL this season, there is no Gareth Bale, who is ineligible to face his parent club, but Kevin Mirallas, Romelu Lukaku, Ross Barkley, James McCarthy and Leon Osman all start for Roberto Martinez’s side.
Manchester City v Everton
Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Toure, Fernandinho, Milner, Aguero, Silva, Negredo
Subs: Richards, Nasri, Dzeko, Jesus Navas, Clichy, Pantilimon, Nastasic
Everton: Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, McCarthy, Osman, Mirallas, Barkley, Naismith, Lukaku
Subs: Robles, Gibson, Heitinga, Jelavic, Kone, Deulofeu, Stones
Referee: Jon Moss
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