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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Liam Wood

Raheem Sterling to start as Man City fans name six changes in line-up vs Brentford

Manchester City supporters are urging Pep Guardiola to shuffle the pack against Brentford tonight (7.45pm).

After cruising past free-scoring Championship opponents Fulham in the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon, a return to Premier League duty awaits for Guardiola and his star-studded team at the Etihad Stadium.

Gabriel Jesus and Academy graduate Cole Palmer remain on the side-lines for that one.

However, the Spanish manager has an otherwise fighting fit squad and will have decisions to make across the pitch as City prepare for three important fixtures inside seven days.

Following up this meeting with Brentford are games against Norwich City and Sporting Lisbon in Portugal.

Here is how Manchester Evening News readers want City to line-up against Brentford.

Goalkeeper - Ederson

Although his understudy Zack Steffen is, perhaps, right at the top of the class when it comes to that role in the Premier League, there is only one number one at the Etihad Stadium. Ederson is the easiest choice Guardiola will have to make.

Defenders - Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo

Despite the high-quality competition Guardiola has right across the pitch, you can almost certainly pick four from five when it comes to his first-choice Premier League defence.

Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo are certain starters in that regard.

England international John Stones and Aymeric Laporte continue to tussle for that fourth spot - but with matches coming thick and fast, Nathan Ake and Aleks Zinchenko might also come into the mix.

Supporters are, though, clear in what they would like to see against Brentford.

Midfielders - Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Kevin de Bruyne

Portuguese sensation Bernardo Silva and Rodri were among those rested for the Fulham tie.

However, alongside Kevin de Bruyne, that makes up the first-choice engine room at this stage - despite having the rather notable figure of Ilkay Gundogan in reserve.

Similarly to the back line, chopping and changing might be the order of the day, but is that more likely to come this Saturday on the proviso City get three more points in the bag tonight?

Gundogan and Fernandinho are the ones to step aside from victory over the Cottagers.

Forwards - Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden

There is no place for £100million man Jack Grealish here as Manchester Evening News readers call for Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling and England starlet Phil Foden to start in attacking quarters.

Sterling for Grealish represents the only change.

Jesus might have come into contention had it not been for the injury he picked up on international duty - though it shouldn't be too long before the Brazilian is back available for the champions.

IN: Ederson, Dias, Laporte, Bernardo, Rodri, Sterling.

OUT: Steffen, Stones, Ake, Gundogan, Fernandinho, Grealish.

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