Ahead of Saturday's Premier League showdown between Manchester City and Chelsea, Sports Mole looks at how Pep Guardiola's side could line up at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City play host to Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday evening looking to overtake their rivals in the top-flight standings.

As a result of suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Liverpool before the international break, City now sit in fourth position, one point adrift of the Blues.

However, Pep Guardiola's side head into this contest having won five of the last six encounters between the two clubs.

Here, Sports Mole predicts how the defending champions could line up for the showdown at the Etihad Stadium.

MNCXI VS. CHE

Out: Leroy Sane (knee), Aymeric Laporte (knee), Oleksandr Zinchenko (knee), Bernardo Silva (suspended)
Doubtful: Ederson (muscle)

City will be without midfielder Bernardo Silva after the Portuguese was handed a one-match ban for a post made on social media.

However, goalkeeper Ederson has provided Guardiola with a much-needed boost after returning to training after a muscle injury - a development which should see the Brazilian stopper replace Claudio Bravo.

A further change could be made at left-back with Benjamin Mendy likely to be preferred to Angelino, who was handed a rare start against Liverpool.

Having remained as an unused substitute against the Merseyside giants, David Silva could take the place of either Rodri or Ilkay Gundogan in midfield.

With Bernardo sitting out the game and Leroy Sane still a couple of months away from recovering from a knee injury, Riyad Mahrez may feature on the right flank.

Sergio Aguero is likely to get the nod over Gabriel Jesus in attack.

> Click here to see how Chelsea could line up for this match