How Manchester City could line up against Bristol City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola should not shy away from making several changes for Tuesday's FA Cup fifth-round tie against Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

The Premier League champions still have a couple of concerns in defence, with Aymeric Laporte (illness) and John Stones (thigh) both sitting out the weekend's 4-1 win over Bournemouth.

Stones's injury - which he sustained in the fourth round against Arsenal - is unlikely to heal in time, while Laporte's involvement will likely be a last-minute decision, but Guardiola has no reason to risk the Spain international unnecessarily.

Manuel Akanji has played a lot of football this term and may be due a rest here, allowing Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake to partner up in front of backup goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.

Teenage right-back Rico Lewis ought to hold his place in the XI, while Sergio Gomez can expect a rare chance to impress from the off if Ake is shifted to a central position.

Ilkay Gundogan should be fine to go again after lasting just 55 minutes against Bournemouth, and he could find himself alongside Bernardo Silva and Kalvin Phillips in a new-look engine room.

Maximo Perrone will also hope to put his name in the hat for a start, while Kevin De Bruyne was back on the bench against Bournemouth after recovering from illness and can expect to take up a place in the dugout again.

With Erling Braut Haaland also likely to be demoted, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden - the stars of the show at the Vitality Stadium - should link up with the returning Riyad Mahrez up top.

Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ortega; Lewis, Dias, Ake, Gomez; Silva, Phillips, Gundogan; Mahrez, Alvarez, Foden