Manchester City return to Premier League action this afternoon as they face Brentford at the Etihad Stadium, kicking off a demanding stretch of seven fixtures before the October international break. Pep Guardiola‘s side is navigating challenges in the Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup during this busy run.
One of the major setbacks is the absence of defender Nathan Ake, who is ruled out until after the international break. However, the good news for City is the return of Phil Foden, adding a boost to the squad.
In anticipation of the Brentford match, Manchester Evening News writers have shared their thoughts on the starting XI that Guardiola should field against Thomas Frank’s side.
Simon Bajkowski’s View:
Simon Bajkowski considers this one of the toughest team selections of the season due to the outstanding performances of some fringe players while key stars haven’t been fully fit.
“I’d be reluctant to make too many changes,” Bajkowski said, despite the return of Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Foden. “Everyone else has been so good.”
Bajkowski favors bringing Rodri back into the midfield after his hour-long performance for Spain, slotting him alongside Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne. Rico Lewis has been in exceptional form and is hard to drop, while Simon suggests bringing back Savinho to stretch Brentford’s defense from the right, giving Lewis the space to move inside.
Jack Grealish, after scoring for England, should continue in the same role as he did against West Ham, linking up effectively with De Bruyne and Silva. Up front, if Erling Haaland is mentally and physically prepared following his personal loss, he remains the best option to lead the attack.
Simon’s City XI:
Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri, Silva, De Bruyne; Savinho, Grealish, Haaland
Sean McCormick’s View:
Sean McCormick notes that City have the luxury of three important players returning this week—Walker, Stones, and Foden—but he would only bring one of them into the starting lineup.
Stones, who shined for England in their midweek win against Finland, could replace Manuel Akanji in the backline as Guardiola rotates his defense in preparation for the demanding schedule ahead. Rodri’s return is crucial, and Sean sees him as a must-have in midfield, especially with big games on the horizon.
While Foden will likely get some minutes off the bench, McCormick argues it would be unfair to drop either Jeremy Doku or Grealish, both of whom impressed during England’s recent games and performed well against West Ham.
For McCormick, if Haaland is ready, there’s no doubt he should start as the focal point of City’s attack.
Sean’s City XI:
Ederson; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri, Silva, De Bruyne; Doku, Grealish, Haaland
City’s Quest for European Glory
As Manchester City gears up for another Champions League campaign, their goal is clear: reclaim their European crown. The Manchester Evening News has released a guide to help fans navigate the competition. This could be Guardiola’s last attempt with this squad to conquer Europe again, with key players like Kevin De Bruyne and others who have led the team to four Premier League titles still hungry for continental success.
In this new Champions League format, City faces a challenging group that includes 2023 finalists Inter Milan, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain. The new phase features 36 teams in a single mini-league, and City will be looking to power through to the knockout stages and, ultimately, lift the trophy once again.
