Manchester City travelled to Chelsea without Nathan Ake after the defender was ruled out with injury.
28.10.2023 - 10:43 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Pep Guardiola could make several changes to his Manchester City starting XI for the derby showdown with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Bragging rights will be on the line for the first time this season on Sunday afternoon (3.30pm) with City aiming to close the gap at the Premier League summit. Tottenham are five points clear having played a game more after a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Friday night.
But there is more than simply three points up for grabs for both teams on Sunday afternoon. City tuned up for the Manchester derby with a 3-1 victory against Champions League opponents Young Boys as Manuel Akanji and Erling Haaland (2) settled the scores in Switzerland.
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City shuffled their star-studded pack for that Group G game. However, with Akanji suspended following a red card against Brighton last time out in the Premier League, manager Guardiola will have to make one enforced change at Old Trafford as the Catalan contemplates more to keep United guessing.
Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku and £100million man Jack Grealish are realistically vying for two positions. Each have their own skillset and the latter impressed Guardiola in the win over Young Boys.
At the back, captain Kyle Walker will almost-certainly return to the line-up. John Stones is also expected to feature after being rested in the Champions League.
Bernardo Silva and Julian Alvarez have been mainstays in support of Haaland so far this season, but it was Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic who got the nod in midweek. Guardiola could feasibly make as many as six alterations to his starting XI with competition across the board.
Manch
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