Pep Guardiola has a decision to make on Erling Haaland for Manchester CIty's trip to Aston Villa on Saturday.
Haaland has scored back-to-back hat-tricks in the Premier League to take his tally to a record-breaking nine goals in five league outings, and he was brilliant again vs Nottingham Forest on Wednesday. After the Villa trip, City face a difficult trio of Sevilla away in the Champions League, Tottenham at home in the Premier League, and then Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad.
It may be that Guardiola opts to rest Haaland at some point, then, with the Villa trip a possible option. Guardiola will also be hoping for good news on injured trio Jack Grealish, Kalvin Phillips and Nathan Ake, who may be nearing returns, although he suggested the trip to the Midlands could come too early for Phillips at least.
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Read how our writers think City should line up below and use the interactive team selector to pick your best starting XI:
Simon Bajkowski
The back five picks itself. Nottingham Forest were hardly impressive but a clean sheet is a clean sheet and, more importantly, there isn't the competition at the minute for defence owing to injuries.
Kevin De Bruyne has to come back in after sitting on the bench in midweek and it probably makes sense to be for Ilkay Gundogan if he needs minutes managing ahead of the Champions League. Julian Alvarez looked impressive through the middle and should continue there.
And while Erling Haaland will need a rest at some point, if he scores early every game he can get his rest in the second half. He simply looks too good to leave out. Riyad Mahrez can come in for Phil Foden to give him a start.
Pick your best team here:
Joe Bray
The next three games are far tougher than this one, even though Villa won't be pushovers, so I'd keep Erling Haaland as an option off the bench. Julian Alvarez was impressive against Nottingham Forest, so deserves the chance to lead the line himself. Add the returning Riyad Mahrez and rested Phil Foden after his early withdrawal on Wednesday, and City should create enough chances.
Kevin De Bruyne got most of the night off against Forest so should return, Rodri will have to play with Kalvin Phillips still out, and Bernardo offers more energy in midfield than Ilkay Gundogan.
At the back, there is a temptation to play new signing Manuel Akanji, although it's probably wiser to keep him on the bench and bring him on if the circumstances allow rather than throwing him straight in.
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