Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola selected Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi and Aymeric Laporte in a strong looking starting XI to face Everton at Goodison Park.

City: Ederson, Walker, Kompany (C), Sterling, Laporte, De Bruyne, Sané, D Silva, Fernandinho, Otamendi, Jesus

Substitutes: Bravo, Danilo, Gündogan, Bernardo Silva, Adarabioyo, Zinchenko, Nmecha

Everton v Man City: Live commentary and match day centre 

Tactics

The starting XI suggests that January signing Laporte will slot in at left-back in a 4-5-1 formation.

With John Stones ruled out of the match with concussion following the international programme, skipper Kompany and Otamendi should take up the centre-back berths with Kyle Walker on the right.

In midfield, Fernandinho will play the anchor role behind the more advanced duo of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva. Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane, meanwhile, will be tasked with raiding from the flanks.

With Sergio Aguero not yet recovered from a knee injury Gabriel Jesus leads the line, fresh from his goal-scoring exploits for Brazil.

Elsewhere, the game comes too soon for Benjamin Mendy as the Frenchman nears a return from his knee ligament injury, while Fabian Delph is not fully fit.