Aymeric Laporte returns, and Phil Foden starts – Predicted XI: Fulham vs Manchester City (Premier League)

Another trip to London looms for Manchester City, as they take on Fulham at Craven Cottage in their latest Premier League encounter.

Pep Guardiola and his players faced arguably the biggest game of their season last time out, as league leaders Arsenal visited the Etihad Stadium in a hugely significant Premier League match.

The game certainly delivered, with an action-packed display which started early, thanks to a Kevin De Bruyne strike. A long ball up to Erling Haaland was teed off to the Belgian, who drove at the Arsenal defence before nestling a strike in from 20 yards past Aaron Ramsdale.

Pep Guardiola cut his own celebrations short on the touchline in order to berate Ederson for a minute detail which the goalkeeper got wrong, emphasising the acute details which go into the makings of this successful Manchester City side.

The action slowed down with both sides engaging in a tactical battle, as City looked to carve out an opening whilst Arsenal tried to impose themselves. However, City managed to double their lead on the stroke of half time, thanks to a back post header by John Stones.

Kevin De Bruyne took on the responsibility of a set-piece, delivering a picturesque cross directly onto the head of Stones who headed into the net. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, until VAR intervened and determined that Arsenal defender Ben White was playing Stones on, giving City a 2-0 lead as the Etihad erupted,

It was a huge blow for Arsenal who needed a miracle to overturn the deficit, one which wouldn’t be granted thanks to the ruthlessness of this Manchester City side. Once again it was Kevin De Bruyne to step up and inflict a killer blow to Arsenal.

After the ball found it’s way to Haaland it immediately spelt trouble, but it wasn’t the typically brutal finish from the Norwegian which ended the Arsenal hopes. Instead, onlookers saw a more intricate link-up play with Kevin De Bruyne, who slotted the ball through the legs of Rob Holding and give Manchester City an unassailable 3-0 lead.

The Gunners did manage to grab a goal back five minutes before the end, as Leandro Trossard set up Rob Holding, as the defender became an unlikely scorer firing the ball past Ederson, giving the Manchester City no chance.

Haaland may have let his hair down physically, but he certainly didn’t metaphorically, as he was played through by Phil Foden before finishing with aplomb, grabbing his 33^rd Premier League goal of the season, giving him the most goals in a single English top-flight campaign. Not bad for someone who supposedly made Manchester City a worse side, eh?

Haaland’s goal finished the scoring for the day and gave Manchester City a massive boost in the title race, as Pep Guardiola stated, “It’s in our hands now”, as the blues sit just two points behind Arsenal with two games in hand.

The focus now turns to Fulham, with the brutal schedule giving the players little time to celebrate. The prospect of a treble may be in the back of the minds of the players and staff, but every game has a massive effect on the possibility of such an achievement.

Fulham’s season has shocked people, with many predicting the London club to instantly go back down following their promotion last season. Marco Silva has fired them into 10^th position in the league, as they look to finish in the top half this campaign.

Although they have nothing directly to play for, Pep Guardiola will be under no illusion that this will be an easy game, and here is the starting XI we predict will be named to face Fulham on Sunday afternoon!

Predicted XI

Ederson will start in goal for Manchester City.

Manuel Akanji operated on the left of the back four against Arsenal – a position which he managed immaculately, locking off Bukayo Saka and nullifying the Arsenal threat. We predict the Swiss international to be on the right this time.

John Stones has become one of the most popular figures at the club, by both fans and teammates alike, with the England international receiving a lot of love thanks to his impressive performances this season. We predict Stones to start alongside the ever-reliable and always brilliant Ruben Dias in the centre of defence.

With Nathan Ake still unavailable but “feeling better,” as per the words of Pep Guardiola, we predict Aymeric Laporte to be given a start at left-back in the capital and complete the Manchester City defence.

Rodrigo will keep his place as the lone defensive midfielder for Manchester City.

“King” Kevin De Bruyne was immense once again against Arsenal, with the Belgian spearheading the Manchester City attacks on Wednesday night. We cannot see De Bruyne anywhere else but in midfield for Pep Guardiola’s side against Fulham.

With Ilkay Gundogan playing a lot over the last few months, we predict the Germany international and club captain to be given a rare rest, with Bernardo Silva slotting in alongside De Bruyne.

Riyad Mahrez followed a hat-trick at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final with a place on the bench in midweek, however we predict the Algerian to return to the fray and start on the right of the Manchester City attack.

Record breaker and history maker Erling Haaland continues to grab headlines, and we expect him to do the same with a start on Sunday at striker.

Following a period of time out of the side due to appendicitis and subsequent surgery, a return has been timely for Phil Foden. We predict he will start this one, giving Jack Grealish a rest as Foden completes the Manchester City starting XI.

Predicted XI: Ederson; Akanji, Stones, Dias, Laporte; Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo; Mahrez, Haaland, Foden.

Substitutes: Ortega, Walker, Lewis, Gomez, Phillips, Gundogan, Palmer, Alvarez, Grealish.