Ederson, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Rodrigo, Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling all come into the starting line-up from the side that began last Saturday’s 4-1 FA Cup win over Fulham.
Zack Steffen, Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake, Fernandinho, Jack Grealish and Ilkay Gundogan all revert to the bench.
Teams
CITY: Ederson, Stones, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling, Foden, Mahrez
Subs: Steffen, Walker, Ake, Gundogan, Grealish, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Delap, McAtee
Brentford: Raya, Henry, Pinnock, Jansson, Ajer, Roerslev, Norgaard, Onyeka, Jensem, Ghoddos, Canos
Subs: Fernandez, Lossl, Dasilva, Wissa, Mbeuno, Baptiste, Sorensen, Stevens
Formation
City have the option tonight of potentially going with our traditional 4-3-3 formation - though there is also the possibility of operating with three at the back.
With Ederson returning in goal, he looks likely be shielded by a back line of Dias, Laporte and Stones with Joao Cancelo able to be deployed either as a full-back or further forward as a wing back.
However, such is the versatility in our squad the boss could also deploy a traditional back four with Laporte as a left back, Cancelo at right back and Stones and Dias in the middle or, alternatively, Stones at right back, Cancelo on the left and Laporte and Dias in the middle!
As ever, all will be revealed when we kick-off at 7.45pm.
Rodrigo is set to be the holding midfielder with Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo also likely to be in the midfield engine room.
And Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez look poised to form our attacking trident.
Wednesday incentive
City boast a superb record when playing in the Premier League on a Wednesday night.
Remarkably, we have won our last 17 league fixtures which have taken place on a Wednesday evening.
You have to go all the way back to Boxing Day, 2018 for the last time we slipped up in a Wednesday league encounter.
That was when we went down 2-1 at Leicester City.
City also have the added extra incentive of knowing that a victory this evening would extend our lead at the top of the Premier League to 12 points – for 24 hours at least.
Second placed Liverpool play tomorrow night when they host Leicester – but if we can record another three points it would put all the pressure on Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Power of six
Riyad Mahrez has been in sublime form for City of late.
The Algerian winger has scored in his last six appearances in all competitions and is our leading scorer with 15 goals for the season.
He marked his return to Club action at the weekend with a brace in our FA Cup win against Fulham.
And given his magnificent current run of form, few would bet against Mahrez maintaining that hot streak!
Stats
• The reverse fixture in December was the first league meeting in more than 70 years. City won 1-0 courtesy of a goal by Phil Foden.
• Manchester City host Brentford in a competitive match for the first time since winning 4-1 at Maine Road in October 1989 in the League Cup second round second leg.
• Brentford have lost five of their six away matches versus Manchester City in all competitions, with the exception being a 2-0 top-flight triumph on Christmas Day 1937.
Manchester City
• City’s 12-match winning league streak was ended by a 1-1 draw at Southampton last time out.
• City have not dropped points in consecutive league fixtures in 49 games since December 2020.
• They have won the last 19 Premier League games in which they took the lead.
• City have won 17 successive league matches on a Wednesday since a 2-1 loss at Leicester City on Boxing Day 2018.
• Riyad Mahrez has scored in six successive Manchester City appearances in all competitions.
Brentford
• Brentford have lost five games in a row in all competitions, conceding 16 goals.
• They can suffer five successive league defeats for the first time since November to December 2007 in the fourth tier.
• The Bees have only taken two points from their past seven Premier League away matches.
• Thomas Frank’s side have conceded the opening goal in 15 of their past 16 Premier League games.
