Manchester City predicted starting XI for Premier League clash with Norwich - with these key changes

We’ve had a look at how the Sky Blues could line up at Carrow Road.
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has several options to choose from ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Norwich City.

The Spaniard has confirmed that Gabriel Jesus and Cole Palmer are the only two players unavailable for the clash against the Canaries, with the former sustaining a muscle injury while on international duty with Brazil last week.

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City come into the fixture off the back of a 2-0 win over Brentford on Wednesday, which saw familiar faces return to their starting XI from those selected against Fulham in the FA Cup last weekend.

Riyad Mahrez was on the scoresheet for the Sky Blues against the Bees, his third goal in two games, and could stake a place for a starting spot on Saturday.

Stones’s goal came at an important time in the game. Credit: Getty.Stones’s goal came at an important time in the game. Credit: Getty.
Stones’s goal came at an important time in the game. Credit: Getty.

Here is a look at how City could line-up against Norwich at Carrow Road.

Goalkeeper

It is almost a certainty that Ederson will maintain his place between the sticks on Saturday, with the Brazilian having 13 clean sheets so far this season.

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The Sky Blues’ no.31 is Guardiola’s first choice for Premier League games, featuring in all but one of their 24 games in the competition, so expect to see him back in goal.

Defence

Guardiola’s favoured centre-back pairing of Dias and Laporte returned against Brentford, having sat out the club’s FA Cup victory over Fulham.

Ruben Dias of Manchester City Credit: GettyRuben Dias of Manchester City Credit: Getty
Ruben Dias of Manchester City Credit: Getty

John Stones shifted to right-back on Wednesday and has started the last two fixtures for City, scoring against Fulham last weekend. However, he faces competition on the right side of defence from Kyle Walker, who is a regular for the club there.

At left-back, Joao Cancelo has been first choice in that position this campaign with Oleksandr Zinchenko and Nathan Ake also featuring there.

Midfield

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The 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations have been rotated this season under Guardiola and allows for several of his squad to feature in either a centre or attacking-midfield role.

With Jesus’ absence, it is likely Guardiola will continue to line-up in a 4-3-3 formation, with the Spaniard having plenty of options to utilise in centre-midfield, including Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and James McAtee.

Attack

The use of a false-9 has been implemented significantly by Guardiola this campaign with Jack Grealish, Foden and Raheem Sterling all playing in the role. It’s likely that this will occur against Norwich as well due to Jesus being unavailable.

The wide positions are also up for debate, especially after Mahrez’s goal against Brentford, as well as Sterling beating Grealish to a start on Wednesday.

Of the front three against the Bees, only Mahrez and Foden retained their places.

Predicted XI: Ederson; Walker, Laporte, Dias, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Silva; Mahrez, Grealish, Foden.