With Manchester City eight points clear of second placed Manchester United in the Premier League and scoring goals for fun, it is safe to say – even after just 12 games played – that the Citizens will emerge as the 2017-18 champions. We have seen many teams starting well and then falling short at the end of the season in the past but this City team are playing in a style that suggests they will go on to win the league.
They have at least two quality players in almost all positions. City are not only doing well in the Premier League but the Champions League as well. Up next for them is a trip to the Kirklees Stadium to play Huddersfield Town, who are doing surprisingly well so far this season. Though the Terriers did lose 4-0 against Bournemouth last weekend and could well be conceding as many goals as that against City on Sunday, if not more.
Manchester City’s only injury worries for this clash are John Stones and Benjamin Mendy. Below is how we expect the Citizens to line up for the clash against Huddersfield Town this weekend.
Pep Guardiola will almost certainly stick with his 4-1-2-3 formation. Ederson is set to retain his position in goal for this clash.
In the right-back position will most likely be Kyle Walker. The £50 million summer signing has been one of Guardiola’s most trusted players so far this season and, unless the manager has plans to rotate, Walker will start.
With Stones out injured and Vincent Kompany missing the game against Feyenoord in midweek, we expect a well-rested Kompany to start against the Terriers. Hopefully, for his sake, he will end the game without any more injury concerns.
To partner Kompany will be Nicolas Otamendi. The former Manchester United target has been doing his best to prove his critics wrong so far this season. In my opinion, he has been City’s best defender so far this campaign.
The left-back position is quite tricky. Danilo has done considerably well in the role in recent games but Pep has also been using Fabian Delph there. My guess is Guardiola will select Danilo ahead of Delph on Sunday.
İlkay Gündoğan is not yet at his best after another lengthy period out due to injuries and Yaya Touré didn’t impress against Feyenoord last time out. So City could do with some rotation, especially as they have to play three games over the next seven days. I expect Yaya Touré to play in the holding midfield role for the Citizens against Huddersfield Town.
David Silva has been one of the best players in the Premier League so far this season. He was given a rest against the Dutch champions midweek but he is likely to get a recall to the team this weekend. The other attacking midfielder will no doubt be Kevin de Bruyne.
Raheem Sterling started ahead of Leroy Sané midweek but I expect Guardiola to reinstate Sané back into the starting XI. I also expect Sterling to start. I see Sterling on the left and Sané on the right.
Sergio Agüero hasn’t played much recently. He was given a chance in the Champions League midweek but wasn’t too impressive unfortunately. Guardiola needs to rotate and, despite failing to be back to his best, Agüero is still a quality player. I expect him to play upfront for City on Sunday.
