John Stones could not return to the Manchester City fold for today’s Premier League clash with Newcastle.
The England centre-back was unavailable for the midweek Champions League semi-final defeat at Real Madrid, creating a defensive issue that only deepened when Kyle Walker was forced off with an ankle injury.
Kyle Walker is also absent, meaning Joao Cancelo and Oleksandr Zinchenko operate at full-back.
With only the Premier League title left to fight for, Guardiola can at least put all his energy into defending this crown, as opposed to Liverpool who must focus at least partially on their upcoming FA Cup and Champions League finals after being held by Tottenham yesterday.
Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish partner Gabriel Jesus in attack.
Guardiola reassured fans during his press conference on Friday that Kevin De Bruyne would be fit to face Newcastle, with his substitution in Spain made for “tactical” reasons.
Starting Man City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Cancelo, Laporte, Ake, Zinchenko; Gundogan, Rodri, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Sterling, Grealish.
