Cherki Set to Make His Mark as Man City Unleash Star-Studded XI Against Fulham at Craven Cottage
Manchester City found some comfort on Saturday afternoon as they concluded the weekend having reduced their gap behind Premier League frontrunners Arsenal to just five points.
Arsenal's 1–1 stalemate with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge provided the perfect outcome for Pep Guardiola's squad, though many would argue that the Citizens are currently not consistently delivering performances capable of propelling them toward another championship.
Their away form has also been problematic. City have secured victory in only one-third of their Premier League matches on the road this campaign, yet this represents a fixture they rarely find challenging. Fulham haven't defeated the Sky Blues since 2009, with City claiming triumph in the previous 18 encounters between the sides.
A congested fixture list means Guardiola will undoubtedly make adjustments to the lineup that began so promisingly against Leeds, though major overhauls are unlikely. Here's how the away team might set up at Craven Cottage.
Man City Predicted Lineup vs. Fulham (4-1-4-1)
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma—Guardiola will be hoping his commanding shot-stopper can avoid collecting a fifth booking on Tuesday, as he'll require the Italian's services for Sunderland's upcoming visit this weekend.
RB: Abdukodir Khusanov—Matheus Nunes has experienced an extended spell in the Premier League starting eleven, but his errors contributed to Leeds's comeback on Saturday. Consequently, there might be an alteration at right-back during the week.
CB: Rúben Dias—Stability has proven crucial for Guardiola at the core of his defensive setup. Despite City being unsettled by Leeds's direct tactics in the second period at the weekend, Dias will probably retain his position.
CB: Joško Gvardiol—The Croatian defender experienced a mixed performance in the previous outing. While he's been outstanding this campaign, he faced difficulties in Saturday's second half. Raúl Jiménez poses a challenging examination.
LB: Nico O'Reilly—The emerging full-back continues to keep summer signing Rayan Aït-Nouri on the sidelines.
DM: Nico González—In Rodri's absence, González has emerged as a vital presence in City's midfield hub.
RW: Oscar Bobb—Bernardo Silva sits one caution away from suspension, so Pep might save the seasoned Portuguese player for the weekend. Bobb could receive the opportunity instead, with Savinho once again losing favor.
CM: Phil Foden—Foden rescued City at the weekend, with his double goals framing an inconsistent team display. He's re-establishing himself as a key player within Guardiola's system.
CM: Rayan Cherki—City's midfield partnerships aren't quite as effective without Cherki in the lineup. The French midfielder provided the assist for Foden's brilliantly executed winner in the last match.
LW: Jérémy Doku—Doku hasn't reached the standards of his Liverpool showing following the November interval, but the Belgian will probably maintain his position on the left flank.
ST: Erling Haaland—The Premier League's top goalscorer faces competition from Brentford's Igor Thiago, who now trails by merely three goals in the Golden Boot competition. Haaland will be eager to find the net again, having scored at Craven Cottage on last season's final matchday.
