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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Joe Bray & Alex Brotherton

How Man City should line up vs Leicester in Premier League

Manchester City can temporarily move top of the Premier League table with victory at Leicester on Saturday before Arsenal would have the chance to return to first place on Sunday.

City closed the gap on Arsenal by beating Brighton last week, coupled with the Gunners' draw at Southampton. Pep Guardiola's side followed that up with a goalless draw at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, but one that was enough to see them secure top spot in their group with a game to spare.

That means that Wednesday's clash with Sevilla has nothing riding on it, and Guardiola can go as strong as he likes against Leicester. However, Erling Haaland was withdrawn at half-time in the Dortmund game as he had a fever and picked up a knock, so could be a doubt for the trip to the East Midlands.

ALSO READ: Alvarez can be Man City's Vardy vs Leicester if Haaland misses out

Read how our writers think City should line up below and use the interactive team selector to pick your best starting XI to face Leicester:

Joe Bray

If Haaland isn't fully fit, he shouldn't be risked - even with a chance to rest him this week in the Champions League. He was ineffective at Dortmund when not feeling well, and Julian Alvarez can lead the line at a ground where he scored his first City goal. City rested the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva in Germany, so they can return to a refreshed attack.

The back-four will pose Guardiola some questions, with John Stones looking a little shaky at right-back on his return from injury, so maybe Manuel Akanji can continue there for now. Aymeric Laporte got a rest on Tuesday, so he can come in to partner Ruben Dias.

Riyad Mahrez missed a penalty in Dortmund and was guilty of spurning a good opportunity against Brighton, so it might be time for him to drop to the bench, with Grealish able to return on the left with Phil Foden moving right.

Pick your best starting XI here:

Alex Brotherton

I tend to agree with Joe on Haaland. If he isn't fully fit - and Guardiola wasn't sure when he spoke to the media on Friday - then he should not be risked. Alvarez should get the nod in attack, as should Grealish, who can feel hard done by to not have started recent matches against Liverpool and Dortmund.

While Stones took a little while to adjust to an unusual right-back brief on Tuesday, by the second half he looked comfortable tucking into midfield and forming a double-pivot with Rodri. Against a team that can counter-attack as well as Leicester, that could come in handy.

Akanji should and likely will return to the starting XI; City's defense looked much more comfortable when he was introduced at half-time in Dortmund. I'd be shocked if Mahrez keeps his place in the line-up - he has hardly responded well to Pep's best attempts to play him into form.

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