Manchester City continue their Premier League title defence with a home match against newly-promoted Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon.
Despite the apparent ease of the fixture on paper, Pep Guardiola’s side can’t afford any complacency as they chase a fifth consecutive league title. City opened their campaign with a confident 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Guardiola may have to navigate this match without key midfielder Rodri, who is a doubt for the weekend. Summer signing Savinho also faces a late fitness test after an impressive debut against Chelsea.
Here’s how Manchester City could line up against Ipswich Town in a 4-2-3-1 formation:
GK: Ederson – With transfer speculation behind him, Ederson can fully focus on his role, though he did have a slight scare against Chelsea after spilling a routine shot.
RB: Kyle Walker – After recovering from Euro 2024, Walker might return to the lineup, despite Rico Lewis impressing in his absence.
CB: Ruben Dias – Solid as ever against Chelsea, Dias will need to maintain his high standards with John Stones back in the squad.
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CB: Manuel Akanji – A dependable presence for City, Akanji could occasionally step into midfield against Ipswich, a role he has performed effectively in the past.
LB: Josko Gvardiol – The former RB Leipzig star is now a fixture at left-back for City after a strong debut season, impressing against Chelsea last weekend.
DM: Bernardo Silva – With Rodri potentially out, Silva might be deployed in a deeper role, where his tactical intelligence and versatility will be crucial.
DM: Mateo Kovacic – The standout performer against Chelsea, Kovacic capped off his display with a well-taken goal and will look to build on that momentum.
RW: Savinho – After a high-energy performance at Stamford Bridge, Savinho is in contention for Saturday’s match, pending a late fitness test.
AM: Kevin De Bruyne – De Bruyne’s masterful display against Chelsea signals trouble for Ipswich, as he remains central to City’s creative play.
LW: Jeremy Doku – Doku’s pace and agility caused Chelsea problems, and if he adds finishing to his game, he could be unstoppable against Ipswich.
ST: Erling Haaland – With his first Premier League goal of the season already secured, Haaland will be eyeing a potential hat-trick against the newly-promoted side.