Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has claimed that his side will be punished for a poor start against Stoke City on Saturday.

City can take advantage of a lunchtime kickoff by moving three points clear at the top of the Premier League with a victory, and the Chilean believes that taking control from the first whistle will be key at the Britannia Stadium.

"It's important to be aggressive from the start against Stoke from the first minute," Pellegrini, whose side won this fixture 4-1 last season, told reporters. "Especially in the first 15-20 minutes, they want to make the difference so it's important to be good from the start.

"Last year they make a mix of styles - they try to not always play with high balls and just with crosses. They try to have more possession."

Pellegrini has confirmed that Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure are among the players who will miss the game against Stoke.