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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Ricky Charlesworth

Riyad Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne start - Man City fans pick starting XI vs Chelsea

Manchester City fans have chosen their starting XI for Wednesday night's visit of Chelsea in the Carabao Cup, with wholesale changes the order of the day.

Pep Guardiola's side play their penultimate match before the break for the winter World Cup. City sealed a last-gasp victory over Fulham at the weekend to keep up the pressure on leaders Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.

Now, attentions turn to the Carabao Cup - a competition that City have dominated in recent years, winning it six times in the last nine seasons. We asked City fans to name their ideal starting line-up for the visit of Graham Potter's side and the result shows six changes in all.

Read more: We simulated City vs Chelsea and penalty nerves were tested

In goal, Stefan Ortega is widely expected to get the nod after a couple of Champions League appearances recently.

In defence, fans have opted for wholesale changes with all four defenders being swapped. They want to see Rico Lewis, fresh from his Champions League exploits last week, start and a return to the team for fellow full-back Sergio Gomez.

Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte are chosen at centre-back as opposed to the pairing that started against Fulham; Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji.

In midfield, fans want to see the same trio of Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan. Up front, Julian Alvarez and Jack Grealish also keep their places but fans are hoping Riyad Mahrez gets the nod over Bernardo Silva.

Supporters clearly want to give Phil Foden and Erling Haaland the night off or restrict them to cameos from the bench.

City fans' chosen XI to face Chelsea : Ortega; Lewis, Laporte, Dias, Gomez; Gundogan, De Bruyne, Rodri; Mahrez, Alvarez, Grealish.

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