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Birmingham City Birmingham City

Teams

Gabriel Jesus and Kyle Walker return from their three-game absence due to COVID-19 isolation as Pep Guardiola makes five changes to the team that started in the midweek win over Manchester United.

Benjamin Mendy, Rodrigo and Bernardo also come into the side, replacing John Stones, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling, who is not fully fit.

Ederson is among the substitutes after completing his period of COVID-19 self-isolation and whilst Ferran Torres and Tommy Doyle have done the same, they remain short of full fitness.

Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte are out injured and Sergio Aguero is unavailable.

CITY: Steffen, Cancelo, Walker, Dias, Mendy, Rodrigo, De Bruyne (C), Bernardo, Foden, Mahrez, Jesus.

SUBS: Ederson, Stones, Gundogan, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Delap, Nmecha, Harwood-Bellis, Mbete.

BIRMINGHAM: Prieto, Colin, Clarke-Salter, San Jose, Friend (C), Sunjic, Kieftenbeld, Sanchez, Toral, Leko, Hogan.

SUBS: Etheridge, Perdersen, Dean, Dacres-Gogley, Roberts, Clayton, McGree, Bela, Jutkiewicz.

TACTICAL ANALYSIS

City under Guardiola have rarely deviated from 4-3-3.

But in recent weeks, with so many players unavailable for a variety of reasons, we’ve seen increasing fluidity in our system. Players have interchanged positions more frequently, with the lack of recognised central striker calling for new solutions. 

It’s worked superbly. Our form is excellent - we’ve won our last five - but more encouragingly the quality of performances has increased significantly.

Despite the challenges we’ve faced with players being out of action, our victories at Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United were delivered in style.

Guardiola will not want to see our momentum subside.

Jesus’ return means we have a focal point once more, and in defence it looks as though Walker will start at centre-back alongside Dias, with Cancelo and Mendy offering width down the flanks. 

WATCH: Stones lands Etihad player of the month award

WHEN AND WHERE

City will welcome the Championship side to the Etihad on Sunday, 10 January, with the kick-off set for 13:30pm (UK).

In the UK, the game will be shown live on the BBC Sport website, whilst fans living abroad should check out our global TV listings at the foot of this page to find out how they can tune in wherever they are in the world.

If you’re unable to watch the game, you can get minute by minute coverage in our Matchday Centre here on mancity.com and we’ll also have live updates on Twitter: @ManCity.

A full-match replay will be available to watch on CITY+ from midnight after the game.

WE’RE NOT REALLY HERE

Andy Morrison and Richard Dunne are the special guests on our live matchday show for this game.

They’ll be joined in the studio at the Etihad Stadium by presenter Natalie Paweleck and will be providing their expert analysis before kick-off, at half-time and after the full-time whistle.

We’re Not Really Here provides a City-centric view to your match coverage and is available to watch in the Matchday Centre on mancity.com and all our other digital platforms. 

WATCH: United 0-2 City: Highlights

PEP PREVIEW

“It will be great to have Sergio back and in good condition.

“He is optimistic - he says he wants to come back and score goals, we don’t put pressure. Most of the games we need him because he is a striker.

“It’s better to have everyone but when we don’t, you have to adapt.

“This situation we had to adapt and adjust, that’s what you have to do.”

FORM GUIDE

City have already secured one trip to Wembley this term, having secured a fourth successive Carabao Cup final appearance following Wednesday’s superb 2-0 semi-final win at Manchester United.

Pep Guardiola’s side will launch our FA Cup campaign on the back of an impressive 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

Aitor Karanka’s Birmingham have endured a frustrating first half to the campaign and currently lie in 18th place in the Championship.

Birmingham have lost five of their last six games, the sole exception being a goalless draw away to Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.

LAST MEETING

The two sides last met in a League Cup tie at the Etihad back in September 2011.

First half goals from Owen Hargreaves and Mario Balotelli helped secure a 2-0 victory for City.

WATCH: Watch City’s 20 best goals of 2020

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Robert Jones
Assistant Referees: Edward Smart & Scott Ledger
Fourth Official: Martin Atkinson
VAR: Graham Scott
AVAR: Matthew Wilkes

TV LISTINGS

The game will be available to watch live on the BBC Sport website, which is streaming eight third round fixtures across the weekend.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAN CITY PODCAST

You can also keep up to date with all the action via our Matchday Centre here on mancity.com, or on Twitter: @ManCity.

As always, our We’re Not Really Here show will be providing a City-centric view to your pre-match build-up, half-time analysis and post-match reaction. That’s available to watch on all our digital platforms and the pre-match show begins one hour before kick-off.

A full-match replay will be available to watch on CITY+ within 24-hours of the final whistle.

Fans living abroad can find out which broadcasters are showing the game in their country in the global TV listings below.