John Stones will be absent for Manchester City as they face Chelsea in today's Premier League clash. The English international, recently back from a hip injury, was substituted at half-time during Tuesday's Champions League victory over Young Boys BSC. While manager Pep Guardiola is optimistic that Stones' setback is not severe, his availability for the upcoming match against Liverpool remains uncertain after the international break.
Despite Stones' absence, Manuel Akanji is expected to be fit for the Stamford Bridge encounter. The Swiss international had experienced a back issue during the warm-up against Young Boys BSC but participated in Friday's training session ahead of the trip to west London.
Erling Haaland, who played despite an ankle knock earlier in the week, is likely to spearhead City's attack once again. However, long-term concerns persist for Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Gomez. Guardiola provided an update on De Bruyne, mentioning that while the Belgian midfielder feels good, he is not actively training with the team. Guardiola emphasized a cautious approach, ensuring De Bruyne fully recovers from his previous tough injury before returning to regular training.
The predicted Manchester City starting XI (4-3-3) for the Chelsea clash includes Ederson in goal, a backline of Walker, Akanji, Dias, and Gvardiol, a midfield trio of Rodri, Kovacic, and Silva, and an attacking trio of Alvarez, Haaland, and Grealish. Guardiola remains mindful of managing player fitness and injuries, emphasizing a gradual approach for those recovering from setbacks.
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