Manchester City travel to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United on Saturday and Pep Guardiola will have 90% of his starting eleven confirmed in his mind, but he has a difficult decision to make in one position.
Erling Haaland should lead the line against Newcastle with Phil Foden occupying a wide role, but it remains to be seen who will start on the opposing flank – Jack Grealish or Riyad Mahrez?
Where will Manchester City finish in the Premier League this season?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th or lower
City are top of the Premier League table with maximum points from two games, boasting six goals without conceding, but Grealish and Mahrez have zero goals and zero assists from two league appearances this season.
Grealish started in City’s 2-0 win over West Ham United on August 7 but underwhelmed and was dropped to the bench for their 4-0 win over Bournemouth on August 13.
Mahrez came off the bench against West Ham and started against Bournemouth, so Guardiola can’t decide which of the duo he can trust to deliver goals.
Grealish scored three goals with three assists from 26 league games last season while Mahrez netted 11 times with five assists from 28 league outings, so the Algerian international might get the nod against the Magpies.
In other news, Bernardo Silva wanting to leave Man City explains Pep Guardiola treatment