Pep Guardiola will have to cope without versatile midfield star Phil Foden when his Manchester City side lock horns with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.
The Citizens will be looking to kick-start the New Year with their 11th successive Premier League win and to extend their lead at the top of the table to 11 points by securing all three against the Gunners.
Foden is believed to have tested positive for coronavirus and has subsequently not been selected in the matchday squad, while Oleksandr Zinchenko and John Stones also miss out.
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XI | Ederson, Cancelo, Dias (C), Laporte, Ake, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez
SUBS | Steffen, Walker, Gundogan, Grealish, Fernandinho, Kayky, Mbete, Palmer, McAtee#ManCity | @HaysTechnology pic.twitter.com/zpVCBPxcsZ
The same back four which started against Brentford on Wednesday has been selected again this afternoon, with Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake to shield goalkeeper Ederson between the sticks.
Despite rumours of contracting COVID-19 along with Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez all start for the Citizens, with the former two joined in centre-midfield by the returning Rodri, who replaces club captain Fernandinho having returned to full fitness.
In attack, Mahrez will feature alongside Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling, the latter heading into this fixture having scored eight goals in his last 10 games across all competitions.
Kyle Walker returns to the substitutes' bench for the first time since December 11, while Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan and Cole Palmer are also options for Guardiola.
