A slumping Manchester Metropolis aspect head to the King Energy Stadium looking for simply their second win in 14 video games throughout all competitions on Sunday afternoon.
Pep Guardiola’s faltering aspect have continued to pattern downwards ever because the late Autumn, and have discovered themselves effectively off the tempo behind present Premier League leaders Liverpool heading into the New Yr.
Regardless of that, Manchester Metropolis can start to show their fortunes round with a visit to struggling Leicester Metropolis on Sunday afternoon, though additional harm considerations might be a dampener on the Premier League conflict.
The Etihad Stadium outfit will possible be with out all of Rodri, Oscar Bobb, John Stones, and Ruben Dias, whereas the health of Matheus Nunes, Ederson, Nathan Ake, and Jack Grealish all stay unsure heading into matchday 19.
With these health considerations in thoughts, let’s type by how we imagine Pep Guardiola would possibly set his newest Manchester Metropolis aspect up towards the Foxes on Sunday afternoon!
Predicted XI
With Ederson nonetheless a doubt attributable to current harm considerations and “niggles” in his leg, as defined by Pep Guardiola, we are going to take the secure determination of sticking Stefan Ortega Moreno in between the sticks this weekend.
The defence stays injury-riddled, notably within the central defensive ranks, however membership captain Kyle Walker ought to come again into the crew at right-back and thus hand Rico Lewis a maybe much-needed relaxation.
In the meantime, requires an injection of youth into the crew have been extensively shot down by Pep Guardiola in current outings, however we might lastly see one other begin for Jahmai Simpson-Pusey within the centre of defence.
The teen must be joined by Manuel Akanji, assuming the Swiss worldwide defender is fully-fit and obtainable to begin consecutive matches for Manchester Metropolis amid current health points.
That, after all, leaves Josko Gvardiol to take up his spot at left-back, persevering with his dominance within the position amid an absence of different choices at Pep Guardiola’s disposal amid the continued struggles of Nathan Ake.
As we head into midfield, Mateo Kovacic will proceed to fill the Rodri-sized maintain within the centre of the park, and he must be joined by Bernardo Silva to assist with some management and vitality.
Kevin De Bruyne has been used sparingly in the previous couple of video games, largely attributable to a illness bug that has been circulating throughout the Manchester Metropolis camp, so he may lastly be contemporary sufficient for a begin on the King Energy Stadium.
Whereas he went for the speedy, dynamic set-up of Jeremy Doku and Savinho on the wings towards Everton on Boxing Day, we imagine Pep Guardiola will take away the latter to push Phil Foden out huge on the suitable.
It was one other irritating day on the workplace for Erling Haaland towards the Toffees, notably given his missed alternative from the penalty spot, however strikers should at all times play by their dry spells and he will probably be eager to make amends this day trip.
Lastly, Jeremy Doku will maintain his spot within the Manchester Metropolis beginning line-up and look to be the chaos agent for the Sky Blues as soon as extra, providing directness and pace in his method in direction of the Foxes rearguard.
Predicted XI: Ortega Moreno; Walker, Simpson-Pusey, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Bernardo, De Bruyne; Foden, Haaland, Doku.
Substitutes: Carson, Lewis, Ake, O’Reilly, Wright, Gundogan, McAtee, Savinho, Grealish.
