Manchester City return to Premier League action on Saturday and will hope to bounce back from consecutive losses in the English top flight.
Defeats to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal saw City beaten in back-to-back league encounters for the first time since 2018, but the return of Rodri from suspension could prevent the team’s slide from gaining further momentum.
The Spanish midfielder has been suspended for the last three domestic matches and is almost certain to be selected for the visit of Brighton & Hove Albion.
John Stones is also an option to start a first league match of the campaign, having played over an hour for England in midweek. Yet, with so many defensive options, the ex-Everton star could be given further time to regain his full fitness following a hip problem, and may be held back for Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Young Boys.
Pep Guardiola is expected to name his strongest starting XI at the Etihad on Saturday, with the trip to Switzerland offering a much kinder fixture compared to the tactically fluid side that Roberto De Zerbi will bring to Manchester on Saturday.
Guardiola, no doubt, will have a few tricks up his sleeve when he comes up against a coach he described as ‘one of the influential managers in the last 20 years’, when the sides last met in May.
Midfield has been the main area of rotation this season as Guardiola has tried to find his best three-man combination with Kevin De Bruyne injured and Ilkay Gundogan moving on last summer, while Rodri and Bernardo Silva have also been absent for spells in recent weeks.
The latter pair are available on Saturday though, while Rico Lewis, Mateo Kovacic, Kalvin Phillips, Matheus Nunes, Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez have all played in midfield in the last three matches.
With that in mind, here’s how we think City will set up on Saturday for the clash against Brighton…
1. GK: Ederson
Has kept just three clean sheets in eight league matches this season, although he’s conceded just six goals.
2. RB: Kyle Walker
Has established himself as one of Guardiola’s most reliable players and the defender is one three outfield players who have started all eight league matches in 2023/24.
3. CB: Ruben Dias
Seems to have established himself as first choice at the back for City.
4. CB: Manuel Akanji
If Guardiola picks his strongest XI, Akanji will probably start ahead of Josko Gvardiol.