Manchester City’s availability crisis means Pep Guardiola had had to get creative for the Manchester derby at the Etihad.
Rico Lewis is suspended and City are without the injured Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji, while John Stones is only fit enough for the the bench, meaning Guardiola has only three senior defenders ready to start.
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Guardiola has said he may need to use midfielders as makeshift full-backs or wing-backs, and it looks as though either Bernardo Silva or Matheus Nunes could be at left-back.
“I don't know what I have to do,” said the City boss.
“Maybe some winger has to play as a full-back or Matheus [Nunes] as a full-back, or maybe can play five at the back with wing-backs as wingers.”
Phil Foden and Mateo Kovacic returned to the City squad for Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Juventus and Foden is in the starting lineup here, with Kovacic on the bench.
Kevin De Bruyne has seemingly answered any questions over his fitness as he makes a fourth successive start.
Erling Haaland leads the line, looking to get back in the goals after missing a good chance against Juventus in midweek.
Starting XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Bernardo, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Nunes, Foden, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Ortega, Stones, Kovacic, Grealish, Savinho, Simpson-Pusey, Mubama, O'Reilly, McAtee
Time and date: 4.30pm GMT on Sunday 15 December 2024
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
TV channel and live stream: Sky Sports
