Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake add to Man City issues at Chelsea FC

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola could call two academy players up for Manchester City's FA Cup trip to Cheltenham, and use the opportunity to bring back a number of players from injury or the fringes.With Kyle Walker, Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne out, Guardiola might have to alter some of his plans against the League Two minnows.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola has told Aymeric Laporte what he needs to do to break up the partnership between John Stones and Ruben Dias. Laporte was sorely missed last season as Manchester City's title defence crumbled while he was out with a long-term injury, but the Frenchman has barely been used in recent months.

straight to your inboxManchester City will be hoping to continue their winning run in the Premier League this weekend, as they face Crystal Palace on Sunday.City have won their last four league games which has seen them move up into third, with Pep Guardiola's side also having a game in hand over both Liverpool and Manchester United at the top of the table.Gabriel Jesus and Ferran Torres are available once again for City this weekend, but Sergio Aguero, Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake and Eric

straight to your inboxManchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has issued a message to Manchester City counterpart Raheem Sterling regarding penalties.United 's number of spot-kicks this season has led to criticism, with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp among them, while fans on social media often claim scoring from the spot is 'stat-padding'. Fernandes has hit back at that suggestion though, discussing the challenge of taking a penalty and stating it's not as easy as some think.

direct to your inboxThe date and kick-off times for the FA Cup forth round have been confirmed.Manchester United will welcome fierce rivals Liverpool to Old Trafford on Sunday, January 24, with kick-off coming at 5pm. It will be shown live on BBC One.

straight to your inboxHard work is the key to Manchester City's newest defensive partnership, John Stones says.Stones has struck up a surprising partnership with summer signing Ruben Dias, establishing himself as first choice in Pep Guardiola's defence ahead of Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake and Fernandinho. The pair were superb in City's Carabao Cup semi-final win at Manchester United on Wednesday, with Stones scoring the first goal in a 2-0 win and Dias earning the Man of the Match award.

direct to your inboxManchester United and Manchester City are locking horns in a Carabao Cup semi-final tonight.City, winners of the competition in each of the last three seasons, tackle a United side looking to lift the competition for the first time since 2017. With the country having entered a third lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, Old Trafford will once again be without fans but it remains a fiercely-anticipated clash.

direct to your inbox Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed Manchester United have a 'very strong squad' available for their semi-final clash against Man City in the Carabao Cup.

straight to your inboxSergio Aguero was looking sharp in Manchester City training on Monday as thoughts turned from the brilliant win at Chelsea to an enticing derby against Manchester United.A youthful-looking City squad trained after the 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge took the Blues fifth in the Premier League.

straight to your inbox every day for freeOle Gunnar Solskjaer is prepared for a new attacking approach from Manchester City in their Carabao Cup semi-final at United.City produced their standout performance of the campaign in Sunday's 3-1 schooling of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge that was underpinned by a counter-attacking style Pep Guardiola seldom favours.Despite an unconvincing start, City scored three goals in a 16-minute period to go 3-0 up at half-time and effectively kill the contest ahead

straight to your inboxPhil Foden should be starting every game for Manchester City from now on, according to Micah Richards.Foden starred as City beat Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in Sunday's Premier League clash. The England international has not been a regular starter for Pep Guardiola 's side this season.

straight to your inboxManchester City might use their academy players for the FA Cup clash against Birmingham City in order to field stronger teams against Chelsea and Manchester United.The new year begins with a big Premier League clash against Chelsea on Sunday, before a Carabao Cup semi-final at Old Trafford and an FA Cup third round tie at home to Championship side Birmingham.With at least five City players set to be missing for the Chelsea trip due to Covid tests, Guardiola will have to

straight to your inboxManchester City take on Chelsea on Sunday in a match that will be vital for both sides in keeping their Premier League title chances alive.Both teams currently sit on 26 points, though City have played two games less, and a win for either would move them to within four points of leaders Liverpool and Manchester United.But City are at a severe disadvantage as they will be without five players due to positive coronavirus tests as well as centre-back Eric Garcia who is out due

straight to your inboxManchester City goalkeeper Ederson Moraes appears to be a doubt for Sunday's match against Chelsea and the Manchester Derby on Wednesday.Pep Guardiola 's men face Manchester United at Old Trafford during the week in a Carabao Cup semi-final clash, and they could be without their number one. Ederson has said he is self-isolating, putting him at risk of missing the clash with Manchester United in just four days' time.