Manchester City will be in Premier League action for the final time before the start of the World Cup when they take on Brentford at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
City are looking to keep up the pressure on league leaders Arsenal before heading into the break - the London side face Wolves on Saturday evening, so a City win in the early kick-off will see them move to the top of the table for a few hours at least.
While it's safe to assume that the minds of some members of City's squad will be elsewhere, Pep Guardiola is expected to name a strong line-up against a side that proved tricky opponents for the Blues last season.
READ MORE: Guardiola gives update on City contract talks
Following Kalvin Phillips' return from injury on Wednesday, Kyle Walker is the only absentee. Erling Haaland will likely be in the squad; on Friday Pep said the striker's foot issue is a "little better". Joao Cancelo is available after serving a one-match suspension.
For the final time in the Premier League before Christmas, here's who our City writers think should be included in the starting XI.
Tyrone Marshall
As well as Ortega played on Wednesday, there is no chance of him starting ahead of Ederson in the Premier League, and there are likely to be changes at the heart of defence as well. Rotation has been a regular occurrence there and Akanji and Ake can come back in having performed well this season. Stones offers more experience at right-back, with Cancelo on the left.
Rodri will have to start again but he might be able to rest a bit more often after Christmas with Phillips now available. De Bruyne didn't come on against Chelsea so can start, with Bernardo dropping back into midfield after playing around 40 minutes.
That Bernardo switch can allow Foden to come back into the team. He was an unused sub as well in midweek and hasn't started any of the last three Premier League games. It would be a strange selection if he wasn't in the side against Brentford. Haaland doesn't look ready to be risked from the start, so Alvarez starts for the sixth game in a row and Grealish deserves to keep his place on the left.
Joe Bray
On the one hand, Erling Haaland shouldn't play if he's not fully fit. But on the other, Guardiola has spoken about players with one eye on the World Cup, and Haaland isn't going to Qatar. So if he can play at least 45 minutes, he should start, with Julian Alvarez in undroppable form so possibly lining up behind him.
Jack Grealish can build on his impressive showing against Chelsea, while Phil Foden was a substitute against Chelsea so he can start on the right. Kevin De Bruyne barely warmed up as an unused substitute in the week, so can start against Brentford.
At the back, a whole new back five can return, with Ederson in goal despite Stefan Ortega's heroics. Aymeric Laporte was replaced as a precaution, so no risks need to be taken when three other centre-backs were benched on Wednesday. Joao Cancelo is an obvious choice to return from suspension.
Alex Brotherton
Switching centre-backs every game has become the norm for City over the past couple of months, so Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake should come in for Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte. Rico Lewis impressed midweek in his second start in two weeks, but Guardiola will be conscious of giving him too many minutes too soon. John Stones should come in at right-back.
Rodri started against Chelsea three days ago but was replaced early in the second half by Phillips. The Spaniard should start again, alongside Kevin De Bruyne - who didn't feature at all midweek - and Bernardo Silva.
It seems likely that Haaland will start on the bench again as his foot issue has not fully fixed itself yet, meaning Julian Alvarez will start again. Phil Foden has not started any of City's last three league games and didn't get off the bench on Wednesday - surely he'll start this time.
READ NEXT:
