Man City only have four certain starters vs Brighton

Manchester City were beaten by Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday having impressed on the opening day against Wolves

Pep Guardiola has several selection calls to make ahead of Manchester City's game with Brighton

Manchester City started the season with an abundance of positives at Wolves but the weekend defeat to Tottenham means the Blues now have a raft of selection questions.

Some of those who started at Molineux couldn’t follow up their fine performances against Spurs. Pep Guardiola only made two changes to his XI for the Etihad defeat but he could make plenty more for the trip to Brighton this weekend.

City arguably only have four certain starters for the contest with question marks over who starts in goal and in the advanced midfield positions, while the injury news will impact the backline.

James Trafford was given the nod in goal against Tottenham but suffered a poor afternoon and was at fault for the second goal. Ederson is fit again and was on the bench last time out and the Brazilian could return, but transfer links persist and the 32-year-old might not even be a City player come the weekend.

If he does depart the Blues will move for out of favour PSG stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma. It’s a fascinating plot to play out over the final weeks of the window and it means there remains plenty of uncertainty around the position.

At the back, John Stones and Ruben Dias will likely continue their partnership, particularly given Rayan Ait-Nouri’s injury. If the Algerian is passed fit to start then Josko Gvardiol, who has yet to feature this season due to his own injury, could come into the middle of defence but the Croat may yet be needed at left back.

On the opposite side Rico Lewis has been given the nod thus far but he struggled against Spurs having impressed at Wolves and Matheus Nunes will be eyeing a start.

Further forward, Tijjani Reijnders and Erling Haaland are perhaps the only two certain starters with question marks elsewhere.

Nico Gonzalez hasn’t fully convinced in the middle of the park and Rodri will assume the role when fully fit, but he’s not a definitive starter while City manage his return to fitness.

City have an embarrassment of riches across the three attacking positions yet perhaps no nailed-on selection.

Phil Foden is fit again and will surely be a long term pick. Jeremy Doku and Oscar Bobb have been given the nod out wide in the opening two games but Foden and Omar Marmoush will be targeting starting spots.

Bernardo Silva is club captain and could return given Rayan Cherki struggled to impact the game on his first start. And that’s without mentioned Ilkay Gundogan, who could also depart this week, and Nico O’Reilly.

There’s plenty for Pep to ponder.

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