Manchester City are still dealing with plenty of injury problems as they prepare for today’s derby clash with Manchester United.
Pep Guardiola’s side have suffered a real fitness crisis of late, particularly at centre-back, and that has been a factor in their falling off the pace in the Premier League title race.
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City are now six points adrift of league leaders Arsenal at the top.
They are without three key central defenders - Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and John Stones - with the trio all ruled out long-term.
It leaves Guardiola with just Nathan Ake and Abdukodir Khusanov as his only senior centre-backs, while Max Alleyne has been recalled from his loan spell at Watford.
The situation has led to City agreeing a deal with Crystal Palace for Marc Guehi, with Oliver Glasner confirming that the Eagles skipper’s switch to the Etihad Stadium is in the “final stages”.
Out wide, Oscar Bobb and Savinho have suffered injuries, but that double blow has been softened slightly by Antoine Semenyo’s goalscoring start to his City career.
In goal, Gianluigi Donnarumma plays after he was given a rest in the 10-1 decimation of Exeter in the FA Cup.
Guardiola was on a minutes-managing mission in the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg tie against Newcastle in midweek, with Rodri playing just half an hour in a bid to ease the Spaniard slowly back into the swing of things after his long lay-off.
In defence, however, City are bare bones, with Matheus Nunes also now out. Rico Lewis is at right-back instead, with Alleyne and Khusanov in the middle and Ake staying at left-back.
Nico O’Reilly played in defensive midfield on Tyneside, but is on the bench here as Rodri slots back in.
Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference that Nico Gonzalez would undergo a fitness test to determine his availability for the derby, but he is not involved.
Up top, Erling Haaland will be looking to get back amongst the goals after a run of only one in his past six matches.
Omar Marmoush is still on AFCON duty with Egypt despite their semi-final defeat by Senegal, with the Pharaohs taking on Nigeria in Saturday’s third-place play-off.
Man City XI: Donnarumma, Lewis, Khusanov, Alleyne, Ake, Rodri, Bernardo, Semenyo, Foden, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Trafford, Bettinelli, Reijnders, Cherki, Ait-Nouri, O'Reilly, McAidoo, Mukasa, Mfuni
Injured: Gvardiol, Dias, Stones, Savinho, Bobb, Kovacic, Gonzalez, Nunes
Unavailable: Marmoush (AFCON)
Time and date: 12.30pm GMT on Saturday January 17, 2026
Venue: Old Trafford
How to watch: Sky Sports
