Leno, Bellerin, Tierney, Holding, Mari, Elneny, Xhaka, Saka, Ødegaard, Pépé, Aubameyang. Bench is as expected

I think that is a sensible amount of rotation. We have 4 CB who can all come in and do a job. If we're more likely to be on the back foot and defending deeper and defending crosses then Holding and Mari is a good pair. Great to have Tierney back. Elneny and Xhaka are really going to have their work cut out against that City midfield.

Hoping we can pose a threat on the counter attack. Against City at the moment you can't really go toe-to-toe, I think it needs to be a deep block and use balls in to the channels as City essentially play a back 3 when in posession, the space is in behind Cancelo and Zinchenko

Leno
Mari
Bellerin
Holding
Tierney
Ødegaard
Pépé
Elneny
Saka
Xhaka
PEA

Elementary, my dear Watson. What could be simpler?

Indeed.

I hope Emile Smith Rowe isn't being pushed aside and is genuinely resting.

Yes indeed. But he and Pépé are going to have their work cut out against Mahrez and Silva.

Hey ho.

And there it is

Embarrassingly easy for them. None of the centre backs cared to defend that ball.

I think I read city have scored against us in first 15 minutes in last 6 games.....
Was hoping we could address that today
Not even 2 minutes and 1 down......

We simply can't start games focused or with a good tempo. It seems we can start 2nd halfs properly but never the start of the game. That is far too many really early goals conceded. Against City you've just opened up their entire game plan by letting in such a soft goal so early.

I read it from you Rich!

Pépé on the right and Saka on the left. Not sure why

Match-ups with fullbacks? Might see them switch

What I wouldn't give for a player like Mahrez in our team. You kind of know what he's going to do, dribble at you, drop a shoulder and find a way to whip it in to the far corner on his left foot - but you just can't stop it.

Passing needs to be more composed. Too rushed.

Mari has made 3 very poor passes. Why is he on the team instead of Gabriel?

Bellerin is crap

Both are left footed so one of them is always going to be defending on their 'weak' side. Cancelo at right back (Saka's side) drifts in to central midfield, which just leaves Mahrez on his own down their right. Get Ødegaard to track Cancelo when he moves centrally and leave Pépé out on the left where he has done well.
For me it is one of those that if you're going to go down, go down with no regrets. Get your best players in their best positions.

Relax everyone. Benfica next Thursday is the must win or must draw 0-0 game. By comparison, today’s doesn’t really matter.

No he isn’t.

Feels like we need Ceballos on for Elneny at half time. We need to get the ball forward more quickly.
I wouldn't be upset to see us go for a Bellerin upgrade this summer as well. He's steady enough but I don't think he's a top 4 defender, too many loose touches and rarely much consistent and dnagerous end product.

That should have been a yellow . City get away with an awful amount tactical fouls.

Sad but true

So disappointing to concede an early goal like that - for all their utter dominance in terms of possession and passing, City only have two shots on goal so far.

Starting to get back in to the game more. Certainly been more even.
City's weakness is definitely the full back positions simply because the wide men don't track back. If we can be brave enough with our full backs we can create overlaps. But.....make a mistake and Sterling and Mahrez are running at the CB's without much protection

We got back into the game quite well but the final end product wasn't there. You also get the feeling City can step it up at any moment.

Haven't realized just how in form City is. Tough to get something out of this game.

It could have been be an interesting game if we didn't give away a stupid goal. I think I only saw Elneny pass the ball forwards once.

The most frustrating thing, apart from the soft goal, was that it took us half an hour to summon up the courage to play and when we did, led by Tierney and Saka, we looked quite dangerous.

So much of football at the top level is played in the head.

City are great, no doubt about that. But this is also one of those games that makes you bitter about what kind of club they are. I mean, of course they're good, it would be weird if they weren't. Ruben Diaz has managed to fill the void left by Kompany, but if we could sign five central defenders for £40m-£50m I bet we'd find a really good one eventually, and the same can be said for pretty much every position in their team.

Bitterness aside though, it's weird that we're still in this. We can't afford to concede another goal, and need to dig a little deeper to score one ourselves, but ending their winning run and getting a point would be a great result here.

According to the pundit, we have had 5 more red cards since Boxing day than any other side and we've lost 7 (or will lose can't recall) straight against City, the most since the Revie days to Leads in the early 70s.

I reflect on that most times that I watch them. A sort of inflated version of Chelsea. Both were nothing clubs until ludicrous amounts of dosh turned up.

City have taken their foot off the gas a bit, easing of the press and giving us more time to build up our play. We need to do something with the extra space

Ødegaard is crap today

Mari with another very poor pass

Saka is the only outfield player with impact

Another very poor Mari pass

I expected a bit more out of Ødegaard. Maybe a bit unfair because he hasn't fully settled in yet. But still....