Manchester City could be without 11 first-team stars when they travel to Leeds United on December 28. Unsurprisingly, the Premier League champions boast a plethora of talent competing in the latter stages of the World Cup.
Half of their crop left in the tournament play for England, with John Stones, Kalvin Phillips, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker facing France today. Portugal, who take on Morocco at 3pm, have Joao Cancelo, Bernado Silva and Ruben Dias within their ranks.
Ederson watched from the bench as Brazil crashed out on penalties while Julian Alvarez and Nathan Ake went head-to-head as Argentina beat the Netherlands on penalties. Pep Guardiola will likely give players who delved deep into the World Cup an extended break before the top flight resumes.
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Leeds, the champions’ first Premier League fixture after the break, could benefit from a depleted side. Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson - knocked out at the last-16 stage by the Netherlands last weekend - were the only two United players who reached the knockout rounds.
Losing 10 players would be critical for most clubs but City could still field an elite-level side. Several big hitters, including midfield duo Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan, were dumped out at the group stage.
Erling Haaland, too, has enjoyed a long lay-off as Norway failed to qualify. Youngsters like full-backs Rico Lewis and Sergio Gomez may need to be called upon. LeedsLive have profiled the, ahem, weakened City side that could take on the Whites in two weeks’ time, featuring no players who played beyond the quarter-final stage.
Man City XI without their World Cup quarter-finalists
Ortega; Lewis, Akanji, Laporte, Gomez; Rodri, De Bruyne, Gundogan; Mahrez, Palmer, Haaland
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