Leroy Sane makes way for the teenager as the Blues look to end the Premier League home campaign with a crucial victory over Leicester.
READ: Where can I watch City v Leicester?
Staring XI:
Ederson, Walker, Zinchenko, Kompany (c), Laporte, Gundogan, D Silva, Bernardo, Foden, Sterling, Aguero
Subs: Muric, Sane, G Jesus, Otamendi, Mahrez, Danilo, Stones
Formation: 4-3-3
Bernardo and Raheem Sterling will flank Sergio Aguero up front, with Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and David Silva the midfield trio.
Vincent Kompany and Aymeric Laporte have the task of subduing the in-form Jamie Vardy, with Kyle Walker and Oleks Zinchenko charged with keeping the Foxes’ wide men quiet.
Expect Leicester to play a high press and look to hit the Blues on the counter-attack whenever the opportunity arises.
Leicester XI
Here’s how Leicester City line up tonight 🦊#MciLei pic.twitter.com/Kms5rE8CGg
— Leicester City (@LCFC) May 6, 2019
Win or bust for the Blues?
Yes, a specific set of results on the final day mean that even if City fail to beat Leicester this evening, the title race is not over – but it seems an unlikely scenario.
The Blues go into tonight’s game two points adrift of Liverpool knowing that failure to win will leave City fans hoping Wolves can go to Anfield and get a result while City would need to beat Brighton.
Pundits and journalists have been claiming there is to be one final twist in the title race, but the Blues are focused and will approach the game just the same as every other match in what has been an epic run in.
There’s no slack for an off-day or an under-par performance – and the Foxes know the pressure is on the defending champions – perhaps more now than ever.
But this group of players have tackled every hurdle in their path since losing at Newcastle last January – there are only two more to jump – clear them both and we will be celebrating back-to-back titles.
Fox in the box
Much has been written about Jamie Vardy’s record against established top six teams and it is indeed impressive.
Vardy has scored five in eight against the Blues and when he’s in the mood, he can be a genuine threat.
How City deal with that threat remains to be seen - but it could prove one of the pivotal battles of the evening.
Come on feel the noise
Finger nails will be bitten and some parts of the game watched through fingers pressed over eyes, but the City fans have a massive part to play this evening.
Against Spurs, the Etihad rocked from start to finish and, on another night, it would have been enough to carry the team over the line.
Then, for a midday kick-off a few days later, another electric atmosphere that made the difference at difficult points in the game.
Tonight, any signs of tension could easily transmit from the stands down to the players – so a repeat of Tottenham is not so much desirable and a minimum requirement.
Stats and milestones
In the past seven meetings between the teams at the Etihad Stadium, there have been 28 goals scored - an average of four per game.
City have won 12 Premier League games in succession
City have won 17 of the 18 Premier League home games played so far this season.
The Blues have scored 99 home goals in all competitions this season.
The reigning champions have scored a league-high 56 home goals and not failed to score in any of their 18 top-flight matches at the Etihad.
The Foxes have earned 16 points since Brendan Rodgers was appointed manager – only City and Liverpool have earned more in that period.
