Manchester City will have to replace Kevin De Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte after the pair were left at home for their Champions League last-16 first-leg tie at RB Leipzig.
Midfielder De Bruyne and defender Laporte were surprise absentees from the City squad who travelled to Germany yesterday, while John Stones is still out with a hamstring issue. Their unavailability means Pep Guardiola will make at least two changes at Leipzig, with Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake likely players to come in.
Guardiola will be looking to establish a first-leg lead at the Red Bull Arena, especially after the frustrating draw at Nottingham Forest, which saw Riyad Mahrez dropped to the bench for the return of Phil Foden.
ALSO READ: Why Kevin De Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte are not in Man City squad vs RB Leipzig
Read how our writers think City should line up vs RB Leipzig below and use the interactive team selector to pick your best starting XI:
Joe Bray
With De Bruyne and Laporte out, the risk for playing Bernardo at left-back again will be too much, so I'd revert back to a back four with Nathan Ake on the left and Manu Akanji coming back into the centre. Nottingham Forest exploited Bernardo's lack of positional awareness, so Leipzig would surely do the same.
De Bruyne's absence is a blow, however when he's been dropped or out in recent weeks it's been Julian Alvarez who has replaced him as Guardiola looks to get more bodies into the box. Bernardo probably deserves a rest, and Ilkay Gundogan is in good form - as well as being slightly more defensive - so he should partner Rodri.
In attack, Phil Foden did well on his return at Forest, but Riyad Mahrez sat the game out so will be fresher, and Jack Grealish is undroppable at the moment. Erling Haaland will have a point to prove after his glaring miss at the City Ground.
Pick your best team here:
Daniel Murphy
It's not often different formations get bandied about for a City team but Pep Guardiola's experimentation this season has opened up the possibility. I would deploy the 4-4-2 in Germany.
Kevin De Bruyne's absences this season have usually signalled a start for Julian Alvarez and I would continue the trend in Germany with the Argentine coming into partner Erling Haaland up front. The two strikers playing in tandem could deal some serious damage to a side that will likely look to push up and attack City.
Leipzig have got a lot of fast attackers and to that end a return to a back four containing four defenders could be in order. Bernardo Silva is growing into the left-back role but a more pragmatic approach should be taken here. Nathan Ake at left-back is an option but I would go for a more natural and speedy full-back in Rico Leiws.
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