Pep Guardiola explains why John Stones starts for Man City vs Fulham and Aymeric Laporte doesn't

straight to your inboxRuben Dias is hopeful that Manchester City's draws will prove useful in the final Premier League reckoning but admits they cannot get used to them. Pep Guardiola's side have lost just twice in the Premier League this season but are well down the table in 8th because of their inability to turn one point into three in more than a third of their matches.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola suggests that John Stones is the perfect partner for new signing Ruben Dias.The Manchester City manager added Dias to his defensive ranks from Benfica in the summer for a club record fee, offset by Nicolas Otamendi moving the other way.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola suggested that the financial consequences of the pandemic will prevent Manchester City from buying a striker in the January transfer window.The Blues were interested in signing a forward in summer but with money being used elsewhere to strengthen to defence - Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake arrived at a combined cost of more than £100m - and the club making a conscious effort to keep net spend down the decision was taken not to add another marquee forward.Sergio

straight to your inboxAn injury-free run and positive mentality has allowed John Stones to turn around his Manchester City fortunes as he impressed again in the hard-fought win over Southampton.Stones, starting his fourth game in the last five, has been one of City's stand-out performers in the last two months, winning back his place in Pep Guardiola's side and not letting go. Once more, he was solid at Southampton against the prolific Danny Ings and dangerous Che Adams.

straight to your inboxRodri became the first outfield player for Manchester City to pass 1,500 minutes played this season during the draw with West Bromwich Albion.Pep Guardiola has made a point in recent weeks of saying that his squad have to perform well every game if they are to keep their place in the team, with John Stones and Ruben Dias examples of individuals that have risen to Guardiola's challenge.Rodri, signed from Atletico last summer for what was then a club record fee of £62.8m, has

straight to your inboxIlkay Gundogan admits Manchester City are struggling to meet the high expectations placed upon them this season.City were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by lowly West Bromwich Albion in Tuesday night's Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium.Gundogan put Pep Guardiola's men ahead in the first half but a Ruben Dias own goal earned the Baggies a share of the spoils.City have failed to hit the heights they have shown themselves capable of in recent years so far this

straight to your inboxAlan Shearer has bemoaned Manchester City's lack of firepower - but is not writing them off just yet. Pep Guardiola's men were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by struggling West Bromwich Albion at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.

direct to your inboxJohn Stones is not carrying an injury despite missing Manchester City's Premier League game with West Brom. The 26-year-old has fought his way back into the team after two years of injuries and personal issues preventing him from holding down a regular place, and started alongside Ruben Dias for the Manchester derby as they notched another clean sheet.

straight to your inboxRaheem Sterling has insisted Manchester City have coped with the loss of Vincent Kompany and David Silva in the dressing room and named Ruben Dias and Kevin De Bruyne as players who have stepped into those roles. Two of City's greatest ever players have left the Etihad Stadium in the last two summers, with Silva moving to Real Sociedad after 10 years in England, whilst Kompany joined Anderlecht as player-manager.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola has told Manchester City players now is the time to mount their Premier League title challenge.The Blues have already dropped as many points as they did in the entire 2017/18 campaign (14) when they won the league, with Saturday's draw with United leaving them in ninth place after 11 games.However, the situation created by the pandemic has seen the division divert from the high points totals of the last four seasons and Guardiola's side are just six points off

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola hailed a good point for Manchester City in the Premier League against Manchester United. The Blues played out a dull derby draw at Old Trafford that leaves them a point behind their neighbours and five off the top of the Premier League table after 11 matches.

straight to your inboxJohn Stones has insisted he is motivated by Ruben Dias' arrival at Manchester City and relishes the competition for places.The Englishman was linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium in the summer after falling out of favour with Pep Guardiola.

straight to your inboxPablo Zabaleta says John Stones would not be part of his ideal back four for Manchester City.The centre-back has been in excellent form since being recalled to City's starting line-up, having effectively found himself as sixth-choice centre-back during the summer.It has led to plenty of debate over what City's strongest defence is, with Aymeric Laporte missing four of their last five games.The likes of Nathan Ake, Eric Garcia and summer signing Ruben Dias are also vying for

direct to your inboxJohn Stones looks set to start in the back four for Manchester City as they take on their cross-city rivals at Old Trafford on Saturday.The centre-back's recent renaissance has seen him come back into the favour of Pep Guardiola, and it seems that he'll be rewarded with a place in City's starting line-up against Manchester United, alongside Ruben Dias.Stones' return to form has been at the expense of Aymeric Laporte.

straight to your inboxRuben Dias has already stood out at Manchester City for the leadership qualities he has added to the squad. The 23-year-old, signed from Benfica for a club record £64m in September, was thrown into the starting XI to make his debut at Leeds after just a few training sessions.

straight to your inboxManchester City fans want to see Aymeric Laporte partner Ruben Dias at the back in the upcoming Manchester derby, rather than John Stones.City have finally started to gather some momentum, after an inconsistent start to the campaign, as Saturday's 2-0 victory over Fulham saw them win successive Premier League games for the first time this season following last weekend's 5-0 mauling of Burnley.Both victories saw Stones star in the heart of defence as the 'Barnsley

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola is expecting to rotate his team again this week after not using any substitutes in the Premier League win over Fulham. The Manchester City manager has been one of the most ardent advocates for a return to the rule of five substitutes per game, introduced as a temporary measure to complete the 2019/20 season and then kept in every competition for the 2020/21 season apart from the Premier League.

straight to your inboxFormer Liverpool and Manchester City midfielder Steve McManaman has hailed John Stones after the defender produced another impressive display during Saturday's victory against Fulham.Raheem Sterling 's early goal and a penalty from Kevin de Bruyne sealed a 2-0 win for the hosts, who were dominant throughout the match against Scott Parker's side.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola explained why he only made one substitution during Manchester City's 0-0 draw with Porto. The Blues boss had five at his disposal, a number he has regularly called for the Premier League to pick up again this season given the extra physical and mental demands placed on the players following the disruption to the schedule.