MX23RW : Friday, June 26 15:05:08| >> :60:920:920:

How Manchester City could line up against Chelsea

Sports Mole looks at how Manchester City could line up for Thursday's Premier League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester City will be looking to make it three wins from three since returning to Premier League action when they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.

The champions have been in imperious form since resuming their campaign after lockdown, cruising past Arsenal and Burnley while scoring eight goals without reply in the process.

Pep Guardiola's side have prolonged their title reign as a result, but know that any slip-up in West London could hand Liverpool the trophy before the top two meet on July 2.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Man City could line up for the contest.



Possible MNC Xi vs. CHE

Out: Sergio Aguero (knee), Eric Garcia (concussion)
Doubtful: Phil Foden (knock), John Stones (ankle), Claudio Bravo (hamstring)

> Click here for Man City's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Man City's faultless return in terms of form has not quite been matched in terms of fitness, and club-record goalscorer Sergio Aguero could miss the remainder of the season after aggravating a knee injury against Burnley.

The Argentine will visit a specialist in Barcelona but is expected to undergo surgery which could ensure that he does not play again in 2019-20, leaving Gabriel Jesus to lead the line.

Guardiola rotated heavily between the matches against Arsenal and Burnley, with David Silva and Riyad Mahrez the only two outfield players to have started both games.

Mahrez's brace against Burnley may be enough to earn him another start on Thursday, but Silva may be rested and Phil Foden, who also scored twice on Monday night, will hope to be handed another start too.

Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan are among the other players who could come back into the starting XI, while there could be numerous changes at the back too.

Guardiola named an entirely different back four in both games so far and could return to the unit which faced Arsenal - minus Eric Garcia, who is still unable to play due to concussion protocols.

John Stones is still a doubt, which means that Fernandinho could fill in alongside Aymeric Laporte at centre-back, while Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy are expected to return at full-back.

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

ID:403609:

Who will win Thursday's Premier League clash between Chelsea and Man City?

Chelsea
Draw
Man City
Chelsea
37.6%
Draw
14.3%
Man City
48.1%
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Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pictured in February 2020
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Combined XI: Manchester City vs. Arsenal
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rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool31282170214986
2Manchester CityMan City31203877334463
3Leicester CityLeicester31167859293055
4Chelsea31166955411454
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd311310848311749
6Wolverhampton WanderersWolves311213644341049
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs31129105041945
8Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd31111193031-144
9Arsenal31101384341243
10Crystal Palace31119112836-842
11Burnley31126133545-1042
12Everton31118123846-841
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle31109122942-1339
14Southampton31114163854-1637
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton31712123441-733
16Watford31610152846-1828
17West Ham UnitedWest Ham3176183554-1927
18Bournemouth3176182950-2127
19Aston Villa3176183659-2327
20Norwich CityNorwich3156202556-3121

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