Three troublesome problems have emerged for Man City - solving them will save season

Manchester City face a defining week in their season as they prepare for matches against Manchester United, Napoli and Arsenal

Manchester City have had a stuttering start to the season

Manchester City have plenty of unanswered questions ahead of the Etihad derby this weekend.

Pep Guardiola's side started the campaign in style with a 4-0 thrashing of Wolves on the opening day but back-to-back defeats by Tottenham and Brighton have left the Blues in the bottom half of the early Premier League table.

With Manchester United visiting the Etihad on Sunday and Napoli in town for the Champions League on Thursday, City will be keen to pick up results ahead of a crunch clash in the capital against Arsenal on Sunday week.

It's a mammoth week so early in the season and if City are to convince as challengers at home and abroad, they must solve their early season issues. Here's three big problems that need solutions.

Donnarumma integration

Whether the new arrival is thrown in from the start against United or waits for his debut, it seems only a matter of time before the Italian is installed as first choice.

That in itself brings clear consequences for James Trafford, who now faces a very different picture to the mapped out journey to being City number one which looked clear cut on his arrival.

Donnarumma's arrival will also alter the style of play and the defensive relationships at City. He is a different type of keeper to Ederson - and indeed Trafford - and will need time to establish partnerships with the backline and develop a clear understanding. The quicker that can happen, the better.

Backline consistency

What is City's first choice defence? Aside from Rayan Ait-Nouri at left back, it's difficult to nail down the other three spots. Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias feel like the long-term partnership in the middle but a fully-fit John Stones is arguably City's best defender.

Stones could be utilised on the right with Rico Lewis and Mathues Nunes unconvincing in that role, while Abdukodir Khusanov's pace could elevate him into regular contention given City's high line and relative lack of speed elsewhere in the backline.

Fitness, form and fixtures will clearly play a part in Guardiola's thinking but, particularly with a new goalkeeper between the posts and last season's frailties at the back still evident, it feels like City must try and bring some consistency to their defensive selection.

Goal support

City might have scored four against Wolves but they drew a blank against Spurs and converted only one of several clear chances against Brighton.

Erling Haaland guarantees goals and while the striker missed chances on the south coast, he is playing his part with three in three games.

But the Norwegian will need some goalscoring support. City have a plethora of exciting, attacking options with Savinho, Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku, Oscar Bobb and Phil Foden all capable of the sublime.

Yet Foden aside none have yet proven they can find the net with the sort of regularity required if City are to keep pace with Liverpool's attacking return.