With City facing our second league game in 46 hours, the young Spaniard – who has previously made three league appearances from the bench - steps up to partner Fernandinho at the heart of our defence.
The other changes from the starting eleven in Friday night’s clash at Wolves sees Claudio Bravo start in goal with Ederson suspended following his red card at Molineux, while Oleks Zinchenko comes in for Benjamin Mendy at left back.
Gabriel Jesus, who missed the Wolves game through illness, has recovered and is named amongst the substitutes.
John Stones and David Silva aren’t fully fit and haven’t been risked, while Aymeric Laporte and Leroy Sane remain long-term injury victims.
Victory tonight would see Pep Guardiola move onto 100 Premier League wins as City boss and set a new record for the fewest games needed to reach the landmark. He has won 99 of 133 matches.
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City team
X1: Bravo, Walker, Zinchenko, Fernandinho (c), Garcia, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling
Subs: Carson, Gundogan, Jesus, Mendy, Cancelo, Otamendi, Foden
Sheffield United
X1: Henderson, Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Baldock, Besic, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens, Robinson, Mousset.
Subs: Freeman, McBurnie, Sharp, Jagielka, McGoldrick, Verrips, Osborn
City tactics
It’s set to be our tried and trusted 4-3-3 formation with Guardiola remaining true to the guiding principles that have helped usher in so much success these past few seasons.
With Bravo in goal, Kyle Walker and Zinchenko are deployed at full back with Fernandinho and Garcia at the heart of defence.
Rodrigo will once again provide the midfield anchor with Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva also operating in the engine.
The front three attacking trident is spearheaded by Sergio Aguero with Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling also up-front.
“We are used to being at the top fighting and now we are far away. We have to adjust mentally to the situation and prepare for the next games.”
Stats
City have won four of our past five home games in the Premier League.
We are unbeaten in 37 Premier League home fixtures against promoted sides since a 2-0 defeat against Reading in 2007 (W33, D4).
Since the turn of the century, City have only lost our final league game of a calendar twice (W8, D9) - to Charlton in 2000 and Liverpool in 2016.
Sergio Aguero is City’s highest Premier League scorer in home games this season, even though his most recent goal at the Etihad Stadium came on 2 November.
Sheffield United are looking for a third consecutive away win and are unbeaten away from home in 18 games since January.
