Pep Guardiola has warned his Manchester City players they will face a physical test at Everton on Sunday and insists the trip to Goodison Park remains a "top priority".
City can open up a four-point gap between themselves and Arsenal in the Premier League title race, with the Gunners facing Brighton and Hove Albion later on Sunday, but face a Toffees side who secured a massive 5-1 win over the Seagulls last weekend. Sean Dyche's side continue to battle against relegation and hope to make Goodison Park a fortress for the final games of the season.
Sunday's trip to Merseyside comes with the added problem of being played in the middle of a massive Champions League semi-final tie with Real Madrid. City came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu, with the return leg at the Etihad on Wednesday.
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Despite that tie being in the balance, Guardiola insists his focus is on Sunday and an Everton side who will try and turn the game into a physical battle.
“We don’t have much time from Madrid because we play on Sunday, thank you so much," Guardiola said. "But it’s a real, real priority Goodison Park. We play for all competitions. We have to switch. Adapt. Four games left in the Premier League and it’s important to us to be there, to keep what we play for in our hands. We train tomorrow and we have to prepare as well as possible.
“There was big results in the Premier League but we thought in the last games everyone plays for something and it will be tough. It can happen. They (Everton) scored the first goal (vs Brighton) in the first minute, a surprise for the two early goals, the physicality Everton have is really, really good. Anything can happen.”
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