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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Matt C Jones

Holding midfielder point made as Foden, Sterling miss out - Man City fans pick XI for Chelsea clash

After Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola named no holding midfielders in the Champions League final loss to Chelsea last season, supporters want to see two deployed in Saturday's trip to Stamford Bridge.

City start off a week of three challenging away fixtures with a visit to the European champions in the lunch time kick off, as they seek revenge for the 1-0 loss in Portugal at the end of the previous campaign.

They will also be seeking to claw some ground back at the top of the Premier League, as they go into the weekend's matches three points behind the Blues and joint leaders Liverpool.

With that in mind, a draw wouldn't be the worst result in the world for Guardiola 's team and that's reflected by the XI that voters on the Manchester Evening News survey picked for the game.

With doubts over the fitness of John Stones and Aymeric Laporte in defence, fans have selected a back four of Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo ahead of Ederson in goal.

At the base of midfield, both Rodri and Fernandinho have received enough votes to make the cut, with supporters evidently keen to see Guardiola avoid making the same mistake again against Thomas Tuchel's side.

Despite his return to action in midweek, Phil Foden doesn't make the XI. Instead, fans have opted for Kevin De Bruyne as the third midfielder, with an attacking trio of Riyad Mahrez, Ferran Torres and Jack Grealish.

Raheem Sterling has also had an inconsistent start to the season and fans don't believe he warrants a place in the team at the moment for such a big game.

While City will clearly need to be robust in defence against a talented Chelsea outfit, Guardiola will also be well aware of the fact the team needs thrust and invention in attack too.

The home side have yet to concede a goal from open play in the Premier League this season and will no doubt set up to disrupt the visitors' attacking patterns once again this weekend.

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