Pablo Zabaleta: 'Everton will be tough'

Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta has told his teammates that they will encounter a "tough" Everton side at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday.

The champions can temporarily cut Manchester United's lead at the top of the table to nine points if they earn a first win away to the Toffees since 2009.

"Everton away is always very tough," Zabaleta told the club's official website. "It's a game that they always want to win and it is going to be hard for us.

"So, defensively we have to be very organised and fight for every ball and with the quality we have we need to create and take our chances when they come along."

City start the match with four consecutive wins in all competitions.