Ederson, Ferran Torres and Tommy Doyle are all missing from Manchester City's squad to face Chelsea in the Premier League, as Zack Steffen and Aleks Zinchenko start.
City had already confirmed they would be without Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus on the back of their positive Covid-19 tests over Christmas, with three more unnamed players also confirmed to have tested positive as well of two staff members. Eric Garcia and another staff member returned positive tests before the trip to Chelsea.
At Stamford Bridge, Pep Guardiola named a strong team including Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling. However, Ederson, Torres and Doyle were all missing after being the previously unnamed players to test positive for Covid.
In goal, Steffen makes his Premier League debut after some good performances in the Carabao Cup.
Guardiola's defence consists of Joao Cancelo at right-back, John Stones and Ruben Dias in central defence, and Aleks Zinchenko at left-back. Benjamin Mendy is on the bench.
Ilkay Gundogan had spoken about City's motivation in training this week, and the German starts alongside Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne in midfield.
In attack, Raheem Sterling leads the line with Phil Foden and Bernardo either side, with Torres and Jesus both isolating. Sergio Aguero is on the bench, despite Jesus' absence, as he continues his return to full fitness from his injury problems.
A youthful-looking bench includes Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Liam Delap, and Luke Mbete makes a senior squad for the first time. Aymeric Laporte was missing from the squad all together.
Man City starting XI vs Chelsea: Steffen, Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), Foden, Bernardo, Sterling.
Substitutes: Carson, Aguero, Mendy, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Delap, Harwood-Bellis, Mbete.
