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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Daniel Murphy

Man City fans split on Pep Guardiola team selection for Premier League decider against Brighton

Man City fans are split on Pep Guardiola's surprise decision to start Riyad Mahrez in the vital Premier League decider against Brighton.

It's the final day of the season and if City defeat the Seagulls at the Amex then they will retain their Premier League trophy and be crowned champions for the fourth time.

However, anything less than all three points will open the back door for Liverpool to sneak in and clinch their first ever Premier League triumph if they can defeat Wolves at Anfield.

It's been a rollercoaster of a season, played at an unprecedented level of quality, and the pressure is certainly on.

There aren't many other surprises in the City team for the pivotal game, though Kevin de Bruyne has returned from injury to make the bench, but the selection of Mahrez has surprised supporters.

Man City line-up vs Brighton confirmed as Riyad Mahrez starts  

The Algerian has made just two Premier League starts in 2019 - against Watford and Cardiff - and hasn't made an appearance at all since his last start on March 4.

Mahrez has been selected ahead of Leroy Sane or Bernardo Silva, who is playing in midfield rather than on the wing, and there's been a mixed reaction in the City fan base on social media.

You can see a selection of their reactions below:

Nerves

The reason?

Fingers crossed

Redemption

Also makes sense

What a day to do it

Head up

Man City XI vs Brighton: Ederson; Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Zinchenko; Bernardo, Gundogan, Silva; Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling.

Substitutes: Muric, Danilo, Stones, Otamendi, De Bruyne, Sane, Jesus.

Phil Foden explains the bizarre way he celebrated Man City's last Premier League title win  

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