MY ACCOUNT
Gabriel Jesus and Phil Foden were recalled to Manchester City’s starting line-up for Sunday’s Premier League clash against Liverpool, with the Reds making three changes.
Brazil international Jesus made his first league start since City’s New Year’s Day win against Arsenal in place of the benched Riyad Mahrez.
Foden made an instant impact from the substitutes’ bench by assisting Kevin De Bruyne’s winner against Atletico Madrid in midweek and was rewarded with a place in the XI.
He had scored in each of his past three top-flight games against Liverpool, including a goal in October’s 2-2 draw at Anfield in the reverse fixture.
Kyle Walker was also included from the beginning, with Ilkay Gundogan and Nathan Ake the other two players to make way from City’s European win against Atletico.
Ruben Dias missed out through injury as expected, meaning John Stones again partnered Aymeric Laporte in the heart of defence at the Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool also brought in three new faces from their 3-1 Champions League win against Benfica in midweek for what was billed as a likely Premier League title decider.
Diogo Jota replaced Luis Diaz alongside Sadio Mane and the out-of-form Mohamed Salah up top, while skipper Jordan Henderson took over from Naby Keita in midfield.
Salah had scored in four of his last five Premier League games against Man City, including each of his last three in a row.
The Reds’ other change saw Joel Matip recalled alongside Virgil van Dijk in place of Ibrahima Konate.
Liverpool entered the contest on a 10-game winning run in the Premier League, which had seen them close the gap on the leaders to just a point ahead of Sunday’s huge clash.
City had lost just one of their past 12 home league games against Liverpool ahead of their latest showdown, going down 4-1 at the Etihad in November 2015.
The Reds were also without a clean sheet in any of their past 11 Premier League away meetings with City since a goalless draw in February 2010.
Man City XI: Ederson; Walker, Cancelo, Stones, Laporte; De Bruyne, Rodri, Silva; Sterling, Foden, Jesus.
Subs: Steffen, Mahrez, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, McAtee, Lavia, Grealish, Gundogan, Ake.
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Jota.
Subs: Kelleher, Jones, Tsimikas, Konate, Gomez, Milner, Keita, Firmino, Diaz.
