Manchester City will hope to bounce back immediately from their Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid this week, when they host Newcastle United on Sunday.
The Premier League champions were dumped out of Europe after a 6-5 aggregate loss to Los Blancos over two legs, meaning their only prospect of winning silverware this season can come in the league.
City currently sit a point clear of second-placed Liverpool, although that could change by the time the Sky Blues are in action on Sunday, with Jurgen Klopp’s side facing Tottenham Hotspur the day before.
A win at the Etihad this weekend would leave City in the driving seat with just three games remaining, which come against Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham United and Aston Villa.
But taking three points against an in-form Newcastle side is far from an easy task now, after a huge upturn in form over the second half of the season from the Magpies.
Pep Guardiola will also be wary of the physical toll Wednesday’s game could have given they travelled to Madrid and also played 120 minutes.
It’s for that reason, the City boss may look to rotate his squad for Sunday’s match, and bring in some of the players who started on the bench at the Bernabeu.
We’re also predicting Guardiola could rest at least one key man, perhaps Bernardo Silva after an energy-sapping game in Madrid in which he played the full two hours, although Phil Foden is also an option to be rotated.
Kyle Walker is not expected to play after suffering a recurrence of his ankle injury in Wednesday, while John Stones is likely to remain on the sidelines.
Here’s how the Catalan’s side could line up against the Magpies…
![Came in for a little criticism in midweek, but is a certainty to start barring any last-minute injury.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2022/04/20/22/GettyImages-1370032466.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
1. Ederson
Came in for a little criticism in midweek, but is a certainty to start barring any last-minute injury.
![Walker’s injury means he will likely miss out and Cancelo starts at right-back.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2022/04/23/15/GettyImages-1240173394.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
2. Joao Cancelo
Walker’s injury means he will likely miss out and Cancelo starts at right-back.
![Had a night to forget in Madrid, and could be rotated after returning to the team recently from a hamstring injury. But the lack of defensive options could see Dias start.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2021/12/19/15/GettyImages-1359832674.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
3. Ruben Dias
Had a night to forget in Madrid, and could be rotated after returning to the team recently from a hamstring injury. But the lack of defensive options could see Dias start.
![John Stones is still expected to be out, so Laporte should start at centre-back.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/T0FLMTM4MDk3NDQ5.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Aymeric Laporte
John Stones is still expected to be out, so Laporte should start at centre-back.