Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic are both fit to return to Manchester's City's matchday squad for this evening's Premier League showdown with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City's No.20 sustained a "big knock" to his ankle in Tuesday's Champions League win over Copenhagen, but he has passed a late fitness test to make the substitutes' bench along with former Chelsea midfielder Kovacic, who has missed the last two games with a knee problem.
Pep Guardiola has made a total of three changes to the side that began in midweek, with Bernardo, John Stones and the injured Jack Grealish all replaced by Julian Alvarez, Manuel Akanji and Jeremy Doku.
Akanji will join Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake in the back four, with the former expected to drift into midfield to partner Rodri when in possession.
Phil Foden and Doku are set to begin on the flanks as Kevin De Bruyne and Alvarez operate centrally in behind striker Erling Haaland, who scored twice in the thrilling 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge three months ago.
As for Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino has made two changes to the lineup that began the 3-1 win at Crystal Palace on Monday, with Levi Colwill replacing the injured Thiago Silva at centre-back and ex-Man City man Raheem Sterling coming in for Noni Madueke.
Robert Sanchez is absent from the matchday squad despite Pochettino revealing at his press conference that the goalkeeper is available to return following 10 weeks out with a knee injury, so Dorde Petrovic retains his place between the sticks.
Colwill joins Axel Disasi, Malo Gusto and Ben Chilwell in a four-man defence, while Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Conor Gallagher – the latter scored twice against Palace last time out – all continue in midfield.
After two games out of the starting lineup, Sterling returns to play on the left flank, joining another former City man in Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson in attack, the latter expected to lead the line.
Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake; Rodri, De Bruyne; Foden, Alvarez, Doku; Haaland
Subs: Ortega, Stones, Kovacic, Bernardo, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb, Susoho, Lewis
Chelsea: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Chilwell; Fernandez, Caicedo; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson
Subs: Bettinelli, Chalobah, Gilchrist, Samuels-Smith, Harrison, Casadei, Madueke, Mudryk, Nkunku
Oliver Thomas
