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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Daniel Murphy

Mahrez and Sterling to start - Predicted Man City line up vs Aston Villa

It may be difficult to comprehend but there is actually some football to play on Wednesday night as Manchester City take on Aston Villa.

City fans, along with the rest of the football world, have been left in dismay this week after 12 of Europe's 'leading clubs' announced their intent to create their own breakaway Super League.

The plans were met with furious condemnation and protest and the club eventually withdrew from the project on Tuesday night.

City's players will have to rid themselves of all the distractions if they are to return to winning ways on Wednesday.

Pep Guardiola's side's hopes of a historical quadruple were dashed on Saturday as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final, with a much-changed side failing to deliver.

With another massive match coming up on the weekend - the Carabao Cup final against Tottenham - it's difficult to call how many changes the manager will make from the Wembley defeat.

One, at least, will be enforced as Kevin De Bruyne has been ruled out after suffering an ankle injury in the match. There are plenty of players capable of taking the Belgian's place and that role may fall to Bernardo Silva.

Fernandinho may also be replaced after playing the full 90 minutes at Wembley, with Ilkay Gundogan coming back in the side. Rodri may keep his place, however.

In defence there could be recalls for Kyle Walker and John Stones, with Joao Cancelo and Aymeric Laporte making way, but Ruben Dias and Benjamin Mendy could keep their spots.

Raheem Sterling is lacking confidence at the moment and appears unlikely to start in the final, so he may keep his place in attack along with Gabriel Jesus. Ferran Torres may make way though, with Riyad Mahrez coming in.

Predicted City starting XI vs Villa: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Mendy; Bernardo, Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling.

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