. Pep Guardiola’s side have won three and lost three of their past six games, trading victories with defeats.
They did lose their last home league game, but haven’t lost back-to-back Premier League matches at the Etihad since May 2021.
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Injuries have started to pick up once against for Man City, though there aren’t any fresh absences. The Citizens are without three centre-backs due to injury, with Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Nathan Ake all out for at least another six weeks.
So, Guardiola doesn’t have much by way of options, with Ruben Dias and Abdukodir Khusanov guaranteed starters — unless he decides to throw Vitor Reis in. The back four and goalkeeper as a whole should remain the same from the defeat to Nottingham Forest, with Matheus Nunes at right-back over Rico Lewis.
In midfield, Rodri remains out long-term even if there are slim hopes of him being available for the final weeks of the season. So Nico Gonzalez and Mateo Kovacic continue to vie for the holding midfield role. Gonzalez has been the favoured choice since his move, so should continue there.
We may see a change in the attack. Last week Omar Marmoush dropped to the bench in the Premier League for the first time since moving. But the Egyptian could return to the starting lineup at Jeremy Doku’s expense.
Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Savinho are likely to make up the rest of the attacking midfield set up. But the likes of Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Doku will all be challenging.
Of course, Erling Haaland will lead the line. With a free week behind them and the international break ahead, there’s little need for Guardiola to rotate.
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