Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has named a strong starting lineup for their Premier League showdown with title rivals Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.
The league leaders will be looking to move 13 points clear of Thomas Tuchel's side in second place by securing their 12th successive league victory.
Citizens left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko is believed to be ruled out with a knock rather than illness, while Nathan Ake, Cole Palmer and Riyad Mahrez are not involved in today's matchday squad – with the latter away on AFCON duty with Algeria.
Your City XI to take on Chelsea! 💥
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 15, 2022
XI | Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Cancelo, Rodrigo, De Bruyne (C), Bernardo, Sterling, Foden, Grealish
SUBS | Steffen, Dias, Gundogan, Jesus, Fernandinho, Mbete, McAtee, Lavia, Wilson-Esbrand#ManCity | @HaysTechnology pic.twitter.com/LSGNkqolWj
Guardiola has decided to selected John Stones at the heart of the defence alongside Aymeric Laporte, with Ruben Dias settling for a place on the bench, while Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo operate as the full-backs.
As captain, Kevin De Bruyne is joined in centre-midfield by Rodri and Bernardo Silva, with Ilkay Gundogan and Fernandinho both options on the bench.
In attack, December's Player of the Month Raheem Sterling has returned to the first XI along with Phil Foden and Jack Grealish, who all missed the FA Cup third-round win over Swindon Town last week.
Gabriel Jesus – who scored the only goal in a slender 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge earlier this season – has dropped to the bench after starting three successive games, while academy graduates James McAtee, Romeo Lavia, Luke Mbete and Josh Wilson-Esband also make the substitutes' bench.
Oliver Thomas
