Manchester City will look for some respite amid a poor run of results when they visit Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola's team was subjected to more crisis last weekend after the match A miserable late defeat to local rivals Manchester Unitedthe eighth loss in the last 11 matches, a result that leaves them nine points behind league leaders Liverpool, having played a game more.
The trip to Villa Park is sure to put Manchester City's resolve to the test in a game they lost last season. Guardiola has several Defensive injuries For consideration and he may have to go back to basics with his tactical instructions this weekend.
Here's how Man City Could line up in the Midlands.
Goalkeeper: Ederson – Ederson's return to the team after several matches on the bench saw two consecutive defeats against Juventus and Manchester United. The Brazilian was exposed due to poor defending in front of him.
Right-back: Rico Luis – The young and versatile full-back subsequently missed the Manchester derby Seeing red the previous weekend against Crystal Palace. He has been used in a range of weird and wonderful duties this season but a return to a more traditional right-back role could be on the cards.
Defender: John Stones – Stones' last two matches were against Man City Loss to Tottenham Hotspur But injuries to Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake mean the Englishman could return to the starting lineup at Villa Park.
Centre-back: Ruben Dias – Even the usually defiant and imperious Dias was unable to solve Manchester City's defensive problems. The Portuguese is the best defender at the moment and things could have been much worse without him.
Left-back: Josko Gvardiol Gvardiol's form over the past month has been well below his best and errors have been far too frequent. With no traditional senior left-back in the team, Gvardiol's place in the team is secure for now. At least he is a goal threat at the other end.
DM: Ilkay Gundogan – The German's decline has been clear to all since his return to the Etihad Stadium, but in fairness to the aging midfielder, he has been asked to fill in for the gigantic Rodri.
Direct Defender: Mateo Kovacic – Kovacic made his first appearance since the November international break Against Man United The Croatian's return will be welcomed with open arms by Guardiola. He should provide some much needed defensive cover in the engine room.
Right wing: Bernardo Silva – The Portuguese is one of Manchester City's under-rated stars, having failed to reach his usual lofty standards. He will be asked to do a lot of work in both halves against high intensity villa side.
AM: Kevin De Bruyne – De Bruyne starred in Manchester City's only win in their last 11 games against Nottingham Forest, but has been relatively quiet since then. Judgment Premier League The champions are desperate for his magic on Saturday.
Left wing: Jeremy Doku – Often appearing both unstoppable and unmanageable at the same time, Doku may be unleashed as a young ram on Saturday. He should run relentlessly down Villa's left flank.
Striker: Erling Haaland – The Norwegian only had 21 touches during the Manchester derby, three more than he enjoyed against Juventus In the Champions League. If he's not involved, he simply has to score goals, but Manchester City's general lethargy means that hasn't happened much in recent weeks.
