Man City vs. Tottenham confirmed XIs: Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne decisions made, Brennan Johnson benched

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made a total of three changes to his starting lineup for this evening's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium.

Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Bernardo Silva all return to the first XI, with Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic - the latter of whom is injured - all make way from the side that lost 2-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion prior to the international break.

Akanji and Stones will start at the heart of defence for the Citizens, with captain Kyle Walker and Josko Gvardiol to play at right-back and left-back respectively, while Rico Lewis is set to push up into centre-midfield in the absence of Kovacic and partner Ilkay Gundogan.

Phil Foden was one of several Man City stars who withdrew from international duty earlier this month, but he took part in training this week and is available to start in the number 10 role, while Kevin De Bruyne will begin as a substitute.

Bernardo and Savinho are expected to operate on the flanks, while the Premier League's top scorer Erling Haaland, who has 12 goals to his name after just 11 games this term, will lead the line once again.

Rodri will be in attendance to present his Ballon d'Or trophy in front of the Etihad crowd, but he is one of four senior stars along with Jeremy Doku, Ruben Dias and Oscar Bobb who remain sidelined through injury, while Jack Grealish, Nathan Ake and Nunes are all fit to make the bench.

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Maddison, Bissouma, Davies all come into Spurs XI

As for Spurs, Ange Postecoglou has also made a total of three changes to the side that lost 2-1 against Ipswich Town a fortnight ago, with birthday boy James Maddison, Yves Bissouma and Ben Davies all coming into the first XI.

Davies replaces the injured Cristian Romero and will partner Radu Dragusin at centre-back, while Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie continuing as full-backs.

With Rodrigo Bentancur serving a seven-match ban, Bissouma is set to be deployed as the deepest midfielder in a three-man triumvirate next to Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr.

Dejan Kulusevski is therefore set to start on the right flank, as Brennan Johnson has dropped down to the substitutes' bench, and the Swede will link up in attack with Dominic Solanke and Son Heung-min.

While Man City are seeking to reduce the gap at the top of the table to two points before leaders Liverpool face Southampton on Sunday, Spurs sit 11th - at the time of writing - and six points behind the top four.

Manchester City starting lineup: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; Lewis, Gundogan; Bernardo, Foden, Savinho, Haaland

Subs: Ortega, Ake, Grealish, De Bruyne, Nunes, Wright, Simpson-Pusey, O'Reilly, McAtee

Tottenham Hotspur starting lineup: Vicario; Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Bissouma, Sarr, Maddison; Kulusevski, Solanke, Son

Subs: Forster, Spence, Hardy, Gray, Bergvall, Olusesi, Johnson, Werner, Lankshear