How Manchester City could line up against Newcastle

On the back of consecutive wins to start the Premier League season, Manchester City have little reason to make too many alterations to their team for Sunday's trip to Newcastle United, although Pep Guardiola may still opt to rotate his squad somewhat.

Defender Aymeric Laporte remains sidelined with a knee injury, and Nathan Ake has been preferred in the left centre-back role in the opening two games alongside Ruben Dias in the Spanish international's absence, although John Stones will be pushing to earn a first start of the season.

Following the exit of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo should complete the back four with little competition for their right-back and left-back spots respectively.

Further forward, Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan will again partner up at the base of midfield, with summer signing Kalvin Phillips unlikely to come straight back into the XI after an injury, with Kevin De Bruyne set to continue supporting the front three.

It is in attack where Guardiola has more dilemmas, but Erling Braut Haaland should continue to lead the line, with the 22-year-old having marked his league debut with both goals in a 2-0 opening-day win away at West Ham United.

Phil Foden was preferred over Jack Grealish on the left wing in their contest against Bournemouth, and, after scoring his first league goal of the season to stretch the Citizens' lead to three goals in that game, he should keep his place.

On the opposite flank, Bernardo Silva will be vying to replace Riyad Mahrez, while recent arrival Julian Alvarez is also pushing for a first Premier League start and is more likely to be deployed on one of the flanks given Haaland's expected importance down the middle this season.

Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, Haaland, Foden