Demichelis returns but Aguero and Kompany miss out once again
Manchester City vs Swansea City
Date: 15.00pm, Saturday 12th December 2015
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Robert Madley Assistants: P Kirkup, C Hatzidakis Fourth Official: M Clattenburg
Odds: City 1/3, Draw 9/2, Swansea 8/1
Tickets: Available via mcfc.co.uk
TV: Match of the Day (highlights)
Manchester City
Manager: Manuel Pellegrini
Squad (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov, Mangala, Otamendi, Sagna, De Bruyne, Delph, Fernandinho, Navas, Silva, Sterling, Toure, Bony, Iheanacho
Injured: Nasri, Kompany, Zabaleta, Aguero, Roberts, Fernando
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Form guide: LWLDWD
Swansea City
Manager: Alan Curtis (caretaker)
Squad (from): Fabianski, Nordfeldt, Tremmel, Alfei, Amat, Bartley, Fernandez, Naughton, Rangel, Tabanou, Taylor, Williams, Ayew, Britton, Cork, Fulton, Grimes, Ki, Lucas, Montero, Routledge, Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Barrow, Eder, Emnes, Gomis.
Injured: Tabanou
Doubtful: Lopes
Suspended: None
Form guide: LLDLLW
Martin Demichelis returns from injury having missed the midweek clash with Borussia Monchengladbach, but Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany are still unavailable. Also absent are Fernando, Pablo Zabaleta and Samir Nasri.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini is hoping that Aguero and Kompany will be back for the key clash with Arsenal a week on Monday, but his attention is firmly focused on tomorrow's game. The Swans sacked manager Garry Monk this week after a run of poor results, but Pellegrini offered his support for the beleaguered ex-boss.
“I don’t think the problem with Swansea was the manager – Monk made a very good season with Swansea last year,” Pellegrini reflected.
“They’re in a bad moment but it’s not down to one person - in football, you’re never surprised about anything but I’m sure he’s the same good manager he was last year.
“Normally in England, some years ago, there was more patience with managers. Garry Monk had a great season last season, now he’s sacked because they lost two or three in a row. For every team, in opinion, they would play better if they stick with the same manager.
“I don’t think that’s the way to manage a club.”
City's last home game against the Swans ended in 2-1 victory for the Blues, with goals from Stevan Jovetic and Yaya Toure. Wilfried Bony netted for the visitors. Overall City have won 10 of the 14 games played against Swansea, with 1 draw and 3 defeats.
Prediction: City 3 Swansea 1