Manchester City get their FA Cup campaign underway today against Huddersfield Town at the Etihad Stadium.
City are the defending champions after beating Manchester United in the final at Wembley last season, and Pep Guardiola is hoping for another successful run in the competition he loves so much.
City have started to look better of late having hit a few bumps in the road before the Club World Cup, and so, today’s game with Huddersfield is a big opportunity to keep the good form going.
Despite Kevin De Bruyne being set to get some minutes today, everyone knows that anything can happen in this competition.
Huddersfield are languishing down in 21st in the Championship at the moment, but the prospect of knocking City out of the FA Cup will have them right up for today’s clash…
Man City predicted XI vs Huddersfield Town – Pep makes four changes from Sheffield United, De Bruyne starts on the bench
One would imagine Stefan Ortega Moreno will get the nod to play today over Ederson, with the German stopper often picked for cup games. He was instrumental for City in the competition last season, only conceding to a Bruno Fernandes penalty in the final.
In defence, Kyle Walker will likely keep his place at right-back, with Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji potentially in the middle.
Sergio Gomez could be considered here, but Guardiola might want a bit more defensive solidity meaning Nathan Ake could get the nod.
In midfield, Mateo Kovacic will surely start. The Croatian could be partnered by Rico Lewis, with Phil Foden continuing as a central attacking midfielder, a position he’s been so good in in recent games.
With Jeremy Doku having only just returned to training, and Bernardo Silva out, Jack Grealish may be the man selected on the left.
On the right, many City fans will want to see Oscar Bobb get some minutes. The Norwegian always looks really good coming off the bench and it would be nice to see him handed a start by the manager, who actually did consider starting him against Sheffield United last weekend.
Micah Richards branded the 21-year-old ‘outstanding’ after his Carabao Cup display against Newcastle earlier in the season, so hopefully he gets a big chance today.
Leading the line could be Julian Alvarez, although Pep may well be tempted to deploy Bobb through the middle and young Micah Hamilton out wide.
Pep respects this competition though and tends to field experienced stars, even in the early rounds.
Kevin De Bruyne is back in the picture now of course, but Pep may not want to start him today and instead bring him on in the second-half to take advantage of tiring players.
Man City (4-3-3): Ortega/Walker, Dias, Akanji, Ake/Kovacic, Lewis/Bobb, Foden, Grealish/Alvarez. Four changes from Sheffield United (Ederson, Gvardiol, Rodri, Bernardo OUT… Ortega, Akanji, Lewis, Bobb IN).
