MX23RW : Tuesday, December 4 10:08:58

How Manchester City could line up against Bournemouth

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

Manchester City head into their Premier League encounter with Bournemouth looking to extend their advantage at the top of the standings to five points.

Pep Guardiola's side play a day earlier than each of their main rivals for the top-flight crown, but that may only lead to the pressure increasing on Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal.

City have put together a 14-match unbeaten run in all competitions, with 12 wins, 44 goals and 10 clean sheets all coming during that period.

Guardiola has a number of selection dilemmas ahead of Saturday's game, and here Sports Mole looks at how his team could line up at the Etihad Stadium.



MCYXI VS. BOU

Out: Benjamin Mendy (knee), Kevin De Bruyne (knee), Claudio Bravo (Achilles), Eliaquim Mangala (knee)
Doubtful: Bernardo Silva (knock), Ilkay Gundogan (foot), Gabriel Jesus (groin)

Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus all missed Tuesday's Champions League fixture in Lyon, but Guardiola expects to have each of the trio available to play some part of this weekend's encounter.

Guardiola could look to rotate some of his key men due to the club's upcoming schedule, and that may lead to Bernardo coming in for Raheem Sterling on the right flank.

Fabian Delph is a likely inclusion having started the game in France on the bench, but whether the England international starts at left-back or in midfield could depend on the fitness of Gundogan.

Nicolas Otamendi could return in the centre of the defence with Aymeric Laporte due a rest after already making 18 starts this season, while Danilo may get the nod over Kyle Walker at right-back.

The game is likely to come too soon for Kevin De Bruyne, with it having previously been reported that the Belgian playmaker is aiming to make his comeback from a knee injury ahead of next weekend's meeting with Chelsea.

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola pictured on September 29, 2018
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How Man City could line up against West Ham
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City1412204363738
2Liverpool1411302752236
3Chelsea1494130111931
4Arsenal1493232181430
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs14100425151030
6Everton146442016422
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd146442223-122
8Leicester CityLeicester146352017321
9Bournemouth146262321220
10Watford146261719-220
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton145361620-418
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves144461317-416
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham144371722-515
14Crystal Palace143381017-712
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle143381119-812
16Cardiff CityCardiff143291327-1411
17Huddersfield TownHuddersfield14248924-1510
18Southampton141671226-149
19Burnley142391329-169
20Fulham1422101435-218

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