City v Huddersfield: Predicted Starting XI

The Blues open up their title defense with the first game at the Etihad. A fantastic start to the title defense down in London last weekend, Pep will look to Sunday's game as a chance to collect points dropped last season.

When these two sides met last season, Manchester City were already Champions. The goalless draw was forgotten soon after the final whistle as Vincent Kompany would, once again, lift the Premier League trophy.
The question is, who will Pep line up for the clash of Jurgen Klopps best buddy, David Wagner? Certainly Pep will be hoping for better than the two shots on target his Blues managed in May.

So how will Pep lineup for the clash? Goalkeeping wise it should be a no brainer with Ederson retaining his starting spot. Certainly the Brazilian would have been given a quiet word in the ear after last weekends game.

Seemingly letting his concentration slip towards the end of the game, he gave some loose balls out from the back. Most likely coming from the lack of playing time over the past few months, hopefully he will be the usually reliable guy between the sticks we remember last season.

The back four might be a little more difficult to determine. Benjamin Mendy and Kyle Walker both looked excellent last weekend, with both full of running. Centrally though will he stick with the Anglo-French combination?

Possibly Vincent Kompany or Nico Otamendi, both unused subs last weekend, could get a start. Ideally though you wouldn't want to keep the young duo out but I think Vincent Kompany alongside Stones might be the way to go for this first home fixture.

Fernandinho has to be selected in front of that central two, with the two Silva's returning centrally. I expect Huddersfield to be tight at the back, so David and Bernardo would be the ideal players, with quick feet and beautiful control, to unlock that defense.

History Of The Fixture

Attacking as a three you have to go for Sergio Aguero up front with Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling either side, and alternating. That means we leave out Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez but I would expect to see one, or both, at some point. For Riyad, it's been quite a hectic start, playing all the pre-season games along with the Community Shield and the opening weekend. 

It also means Riyad is an option off the bench for a number of positions should he be needed, and that will be an option we may need later in the game.