MANCHESTER CITY’S TEAM NEWS
The Blues are in a poor run of form, with only one win in their last 10 games in all competitions following a 2-0 reverse at Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Pep Guardiola is definitely without versatile England international Rico Lewis and there are doubts over some of his defenders too.
Manuel Akanji and John Stones have question marks over their involvement, while Nathan Ake looks set to remain absent. Guardiola said over Akanji: “He has a discomfort in the stomach area, [the] abductor.
“It doesn’t feel good but he made an incredible effort. Him and Nathan [Ake] weren’t even at half their best and they helped to play there. Manu plays 45 minutes and steps back and says I have to recover or I can’t compete. He’s a strong player and so reliable but, in that moment, he cannot play.
“We will think about it [the make-up of the defence],” added the City manager. “Maybe a winger has to play as a full-back or Matheus [Nunes], or maybe we play with five at the back with wing-backs.”
Guardiola also praised the resilience of Kevin De Bruyne and top scorer Erling Haaland with their ability to recover after games.
Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden are available, unlike long-term injury victims Rodri and Oscar Bobb, while Ederson and Stefan Ortega have been sharing goalkeeping duties of late.