Pep Guardiola has named his starting line-up for Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Fulham at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon, making a collection of changes.
Erling Haaland, who has scored 22 goals in all competitions already this season, will instead be on the bench for the clash after missing the two matches through injury.
Haaland was substituted off at half-time during City’s goalless draw with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on October, 25.
However, he has returned to the matchday squad following his return to training this week, but boss Pep Guardiola has opted to go against putting his star man straight back into the starting line-up.
After making seven changes against Sevilla, Guardiola recall a number of his first-team regulars, with De Bruyne, Rodri and Bernardo Silva all starting in midfield but Phil Foden on the bench again.
Julian Alvarez, who has been deputising for Haaland in the last two matches, keeps his place in the team after his superb display in the Champions League in mid-week.
City starting XI: Ederson, Akanji, Stones, Ake, Cancelo, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan (C), Bernardo, Alvarez, Grealish.
🔵 TEAM NEWS 🔵
XI | Ederson, Akanji, Stones, Ake, Cancelo, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan (C), Bernardo, Alvarez, Grealish
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Dias, Haaland, Laporte, Gomez, Mahrez, Foden, Palmer, Lewis#ManCity | @HaysWorldwide pic.twitter.com/urMNOU0SR5
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 5, 2022
Below, we take a close look at what some of City’s supporters have had to say in response to Pep Guardiola’s decision to keep Haaland and Foden on the bench.
“Makes no sense dropping Foden”
Credit: @Fodenologyy
“Understand why Haaland doesn’t start but why tf has he left out Foden?.”
Credit: @georgemcfc21
“Haaland I accept due to Injury but what did foden do to not start consecutively like literally why isnt he starting.”
Credit: @MancityGP
“Is something wrong between Foden and Pep??”
Credit: @aXtrips
“3 games now, getting worrying”
Credit: @OliverJunixr20
“Surely Pep and Foden have had a disagreement because he keeps getting benched in prem games for no reason at all”
Credit: @Ethan4707
“If it is true looks like it’s gonna be Grealish, Mahrez and Alvarez”
Credit: @CambrookJac
