Predicted Starting Line-Up: Manchester City vs Salford City (FA Cup Third Round) | OneFootball

Manchester City return to action in search of a third consecutive victory across competitions as they welcome neighbours Salford City to the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s side have finally found some positive form after consecutive Premier League wins against Leicester City and West Ham United, and they will look to keep that going against Salford City this weekend.

It is no secret that the Sky Blues have been in a slump as of late, winning just three of their last 14 games, but with no midweek action in the last two weeks, the reigning Premier League champions have been given the gift of time off as they look to bring injured players back.

Pep Guardiola has been without the services of Matheus Nunes, Ederson, John Stones, and Ruben Dias for some time, plus talismanic midfielder Rodri – who will likely miss the remainder of the season – and Oscar Bobb, who is closing in on a return.

But after just two games in 13 days, the Etihad Stadium outfit could head into the FA Cup weekend as a side refreshed, and with that in mind, this is how we believe Pep Guardiola might set his side up!

Predicted XI

Stefan Ortega Moreno continues to be Manchester City’s only true fit senior goalkeeper, and he should get the nod once more this weekend having put together some strong performances for the club in recent weeks.

Rico Lewis particularly thrives in matches in which the Sky Blues dominate possession and the hosts should do just that against Salford on Saturday evening. You can often consider Lewis an automatic starter in a cup-tie such as this.

Injuries have plagued the club’s central defenders this season, meaning Manuel Akanji may be forced to be play once more, but could be joined by youngster Jahmai Simpson-Pusey in another invaluable outing for the teenager.

With few other options in the role, Josko Gvardiol will likely remain out on the pitch for Manchester City at the usual left-back spot for Pep Guardiola, with Nathan Ake in more need of rest and recovery following reoccurring problems this campaign.

The rotation starts to ramp up as we move into midfield this weekend.

Mateo Kovacic should anchor the engine room in the defensive midfield role for Manchester City, but the Croatia international could be joined by academy product Nico O’Reilly – a youngster many City fans have been pining to see throughout this season.

Ahead of those two deeper in a central three is, of course, Phil Foden – who made a name for himself excelling in cup ties against lower-league opposition when he was first breaking into the Manchester City first-team under Pep Guardiola.

Out on the wings, James McAtee should join the fray after seeing his Premier League minutes slowly start to increase off the bench in recent weeks, and particularly in light of an impressive showing against Leicester City away from him before the turn of the year.

While some have mooted the idea of Pep Guardiola playing a false-nine in cup ties to give Erling Haaland a much-needed rest, an up-turn in time away from match action through free midweeks should see the Norwegian start once again.

Finally, that leaves Jeremy Doku to rejoin the starting line-up after taking a seat in the last few Premier League matches for Manchester City, due in large part to the emerging form of Savinho on the left of attack.

Predicted XI: Ortega Moreno; Lewis, Akanji, Simpson-Pusey, Gvardiol; Kovacic, O’Reilly, Foden; McAtee, Haaland, Doku.

Substitutes: Ederson, Walker, Ake, Gundogan, Nunes, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Grealish, Savinho.