Manchester City have five centre-backs pushing for two starting spots in every game - so it doesn't take a maths genius like Manuel Akanji to realise that five don't go into two.
Nathan Ake has emerged as City's first-choice left-back this season after Joao Cancelo's departure, leaving Akanji, Ruben Dias, John Stones and Aymeric Laporte to compete for two spots in the centre. Pep Guardiola has tried to ease the competition by using Stones at right-back against Liverpool, however there is still more defenders than starting spots available, and that increases the competition on Kyle Walker and Rico Lewis.
Akanji has managed to position himself ahead of Laporte, starting against Liverpool alongside Dias as a reflection of his fine form this season since arriving from Borussia Dortmund.
