City begin their Premier League season against Bournemouth at the Etihad later, with Enzo Maresca facing some selection decisions after a tricky week.
City need a response after their 3-0 Community Shield defeat against Arsenal, but the side Maresca selects could already look different.
Rodri has completed his move to Barcelona, while Savinho is heading for Tottenham and Jeremy Doku is unavailable through injury. Matheus Nunes, however, is fit again and should return at right-back.
Maresca could make changes after Arsenal defeat
Gianluigi Donnarumma will continue in goal, with City having allowed James Trafford to leave this summer.
Nunes’ return gives Maresca a more natural option for the role he wants from his right-back. Rúben Dias should retain his place in central defence, but Marc Guéhi has a strong case to come into the side following City’s problems against Arsenal.
Joško Gvardiol could meanwhile be preferred to Nico O’Reilly on the left. Bournemouth’s ability to break quickly may encourage Maresca to select the more experienced defensive option.
The biggest question comes in midfield following Rodri’s departure.
Elliot Anderson was signed for precisely this sort of role and should start, although expecting him simply to become a direct replacement for Rodri would be unrealistic. Mateo Kovačić is the logical partner alongside him and would provide some much-needed experience.
Phil Foden can then operate further forward.
Semenyo set to face former club
City’s attacking selection has become more complicated.
Doku is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks with a calf problem, while Savinho is unavailable ahead of his proposed £85m move to Tottenham. Omar Marmoush’s future is also uncertain amid interest from Spurs.
That should guarantee Semenyo a starting place against his former club.
Rayan Cherki could take the other wide role, although his natural tendency to move inside means Nunes would be required to provide width from right-back.
Erling Haaland plays through the middle. The Norwegian will be central to City’s hopes of putting the Community Shield disappointment behind them.
ReadManCity predicted XI vs Bournemouth
Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma
RB: Matheus Nunes
CB: Rúben Dias
CB: Marc Guéhi
LB: Joško Gvardiol
CM: Elliot Anderson
CM: Mateo Kovačić
RW: Rayan Cherki
AM: Phil Foden
LW: Antoine Semenyo
ST: Erling Haaland
Predicted XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guéhi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Kovačić; Cherki, Foden, Semenyo; Haaland.
It would represent a fairly conservative first Premier League selection from Maresca, but after what happened against Arsenal, restoring some control will be more important than making wholesale changes.
