City face Swansea this evening looking to set a new Premier League record of 15-consecutive wins.
Danilo, Eliaquim Mangala, Bernardo Silva and Sergio Aguero are all recalled to the starting lineup, with Kyle Walker, Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus dropping to the bench.
Vincent Kompany joins John Stones and Benjamin Mendy on the treatment table.
City Team
City XI: Ederson; Danilo, Otamendi, Mangala, Delph; Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva; Sterling, Bernardo, Aguero
Subs: Bravo, Walker, Gundogan, Sane, Jesus, Zinchenko, Toure
Tactics
City appear to be playing Guardiola’s favoured 4-3-3 formation. Danilo looks likely to slot in at right-back, affording Walker a well-earned rest, with Mangala set to play as the left-sided centre-half alongside Nicolas Otamendi.
The brilliant Fernandinho will continue to anchor the midfield, allowing Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva licence to roam. That trio have been the bedrock of City’s wonderful season so far, with their mix of flair, ingenuity and tenacity difficult to stop.
And in attack, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo will support the returning Aguero, who will lead the line.
As ever, City’s shape will be fluid and the emphasis will be on attack.
Swansea team
Swansea XI: Fabianski, Naughton, van der Hoorn, Mawson, Olsson, Ki Sung-yueng, Mesa, Carroll, J Ayew, Dyer, Bony
Subs: Fer, Abraham, Narsingh, Clucas, Rangel, Mulder, Fernandez
Pre-match stats
City have won 46 points after 16 games this season – that points tally would have been enough to secure 8th position in the Premier League at the end of 2016-17.
Swansea have the exact same record after 16 games this season as they did in 2016-17 – W3 D3 L10, winning 12 points. However, at this stage last season 54 goals had been scored in their matches while they have only seen 27 this season – half the tally.
Kevin De Bruyne has assisted 17 goals in the Premier League in 2017 – the only players with more within a single Premier League calendar year are Mesut Ozil (20 in 2015) and Thierry Henry (19 in 2003).
Wilfried Bony has scored in his last two Premier League games & will be looking to score in three in a row for the first time since October 2014. The Ivorian scored just six goals in 36 Premier League appearances for Manchester City before re-joining Swansea in August.
