Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has named a strong starting lineup for Saturday lunchtime's Premier League showdown against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with several first-team players returning to the matchday squad.
The Citizens will be seeking revenge against the current Champions League holders, who have triumphed in each of the last three meetings between the two English giants.
Five City players – John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ilkay Gundogan and Rodri – were all doubtful heading into the game, but it is only Zinchenko and Gundogan that are absent from today's matchday squad.
Team news is in! 💪
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 25, 2021
XI | Ederson, Walker, Dias (C), Laporte, Cancelo, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Jesus, Grealish.
SUBS | Steffen, Stones, Ake, Sterling, Torres, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Palmer, Lavia.
📋 @HaysWorldwide
🔷 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klUGiM pic.twitter.com/kgKxZe2Qxu
Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson returns to the starting lineup at the expense of Zack Steffen, who played between the sticks against Wycombe Wanderers in midweek, while Ruben Dias will captain the side in defence alongside Kyle Walker, Aymeric Laporte and Joao Cancelo.
Former Chelsea man Kevin De Bruyne is joined by Rodri and Bernardo Silva in midfield, while Fernandinho is an option for Guardiola on the bench.
In attack, Phil Foden is expected to start on the right flank, with summer signing Jack Grealish operating on the left and Gabriel Jesus named as the central striker. Ferran Torres starts the second successive league game on the bench and is joined by Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and exciting project Cole Palmer.
