Merseyside, Manchester teams clash

On Sunday, two more Merseyside and Manchester teams meet. Here City could give a debut to Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus against Everton following his arrival at the club this month.

City manager Pep Guardiola also was boosted this week by the return of club captain Vincent Kompany to full training for the first time since hurting his knee against Crystal Palace in November.

City are in fourth place in the standings.

Things are looking up for Olivier Giroud at Arsenal.

The France striker had a late start to the season after his exertions at the European Championship and lost his starting place to Alexis Sanchez, a winger who filled in impressively as a makeshift striker.

Giroud forced his way back into the team last month, helped by injuries to midfielders, and responded with a goal in each of his last four games including one from a scorpion-style kick against Crystal Palace.

He was made captain for the FA Cup match against Preston last weekend, when he scored a late winner, and it was announced Thursday that Giroud is one of three players along with compatriots Laurent Koscielny and Francis Coquelin to have signed new long-term deals at the London club.