Leeds vs. Man City confirmed lineups: Huge Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku news as Pep Guardiola forced into big change

Erling Haaland has been left out of Manchester City’s squad for this evening’s Premier League clash against Leeds United at Elland Road.

The Leeds-born striker has scored a Premier League-high 22 goals so far this season, but he will not be adding to his tally against Daniel Farke’s side because of a "little injury" picked up in training, according to manager Pep Guardiola.

The Catalan coach has made just the one change to the City side that beat Newcastle 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium last weekend, with Rayan Cherki taking Haaland’s place in the first XI.

Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo are set to begin as centre-forwards for the Citizens in the absence of Haaland, while Cherki and captain Bernardo Silva provide creativity from advanced midfield positions in front of Rodri and in-form Nico O’Reilly, who has scored three goals in his last two games.

A back four of Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi and Rayan Ait-Nouri will remain intact, protecting goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Meanwhile, Man City have been boosted  by the return of Jeremy Doku, who has recovered from a calf injury and will begin on the substitutes’ bench. Fellow winger Savinho is also on the bench for a second time since returning from injury.

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Same players, same formation as Farke names unchanged Leeds XI

As for Leeds, head coach Farke has named an unchanged starting lineup following last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Gabriel Gudmundsson was passed fit to play by Farke on Friday after he was taken off at half time against Villa through illness. The Swede will continue at left wing-back as Jayden Bogle operates on the opposite flank.

James Justin, Joe Rodon and Patrick Struijk continue as centre-backs in front of goalkeeper Karl Darlow, while Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev will link arms at the base of Leeds’ midfield.

Anton Stach, who scored a superb 35-yard free kick against Villa, is set to play alongside Brenden Aaronson in an advanced midfield role in behind striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who scored in Leeds’ 3-2 loss at Man City earlier this season.

Manchester City starting lineup: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, O’Reilly; Bernardo, Cherki; Semenyo, Marmoush

Subs: Trafford, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Doku, Gonzalez, Savinho, Khusanov, Foden

Leeds United: Darlow; Bogle, Justin, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Ampadu, Gruev, Stach; Aaronson; Calvert-Lewin

Subs: Perri, Bornauw, Bijol, Longstaff, Tanaka, James, Gnonto, Nmecha, Piroe