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Manchester City take on Brighton in the Premier League on Wednesday night with Pep Guardiola's side missing several players through injury.
Manchester City host Brighton on Wednesday battling an injury crisis and an increasing gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal. The Blues were denied a win on Sunday by a last-minute Chelsea equaliser and two draws in their last two games have seen the gap at the top to the Gunners extend to six points.
Arsenal welcome Liverpool on Thursday night so City have the chance to close the gap when the Seagulls visit the Etihad tonight. But they will be without several key players as Pep Guardiola manages a host of injuries.
Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol both suffered injuries in the draw with Chelsea and face time on the sidelines with the latter potentially out for the rest of the season. With John Stones also out, City are set to pair Nathan Ake and Abdukodir Khusanov together in the heart of defence.
Gianluigi Donnarumma will start in goal and while Nico O'Reilly has looked short of his best in the past two games there is little in the way of alternatives at left back with Rayan Ait-Nouri away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Rico Lewis could potentially come in but O'Reilly looks set to retain his place with Matheus Nunes on the opposite side.
Rodri returned off the bench at Sunderland and came through 90 minutes against Chelsea on Sunday. Nico Gonzalez is fit again and Guardiola faces a dilemma as to whether to retain Rodri for a second game in four days or throw Gonzalez back in from the start. It feels like Rodri is the bigger risk so restoring Gonzalez to the XI might be the safest bet. He also possesses the ability to play at centre back if required.
Tijjani Reijnders, in goalscoring form, is set to start again in midfield. Further forward, Jeremy Doku could come into the side having made two appearances off the bench and offer the chance for rotation. Rayan Cherki could drop out while Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden might retain their places. Erling Haaland will lead the line.
Predicted City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, O'Reilly, Gonzalez, Reijnders, Bernardo, Foden, Doku, Haaland
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