Manchester City host Coventry City in the Premier League as Enzo Maresca’s team look to continue their winning start to the season.
Erling Haaland got off the mark and Rayan Cherki also grabbed a brace in a 4-1 win at Crystal Palace last week, before a franctic end to the transfer window saw City equal the British transfer record to sign Enzo Fernadez from Chelsea for £125m and add Iilman Ndiaye from Everton in a £60m deal. Ndiaye comes straight into the team while Fernandez could make his debut from the bench.
Coventry’s start to life in the Premier League doesn’t get any easier after their opening day defeat at champions Arsenal and last weekend’s sucker punch against Hull, where Frank Lampard’s side lost 1-0 after conceding from a late counter-attack. The Championship winners are prepared for another tough afternoon.
“I think we all know that it will not look like last season and the quicker we realise that the better,” Lampard said. “Last season was an incredible season for us because we won a lot and everything becomes easier in that moment. So it’s important that we understand the rigours of the Premier League.”
Follow live updates from Manchester City v Coventry, below
How did the two clubs’ transfer windows fare?
Ins: Caleb Yirenkyi (£23m), Carl Rushworth (£22.5m), Sidiki Cherif (£20.5m), Loum Tchaouna (£20m), Aurele Amenda (£15.4m), Taiwo Awoniyi (£9m), Ethan Pinnock (£6m), Gustavo Hamer (£6m), Stephen Mfuni (loan), Dan Bentley (undisclosed fee), Frank Onyeka (undisclosed fee), Billy-Ray Cullinane (free)
Outs: Kai Andrews (loan), Miguel Angel Brau (loan), Jahnoah Markelo (undisclosed fee), Norman Bassette (loan), Callum Perry (loan), Brad Collins (free), Isaac Moore (loan), Liam Kitching (loan), Charlie Finney (free), Rylie Siddall (free), Oliver Dovin (loan), Raphael Borges Rodrigues (loan)
Verdict: Ambitious. Frank Lampard has been backed without totally disrupting the group that impressively won the Championship last term. Well over £100m spent, which might now just be a necessary entry point to a promoted side having a realistic chance of survival. But Caleb Yirenkyi is an exciting addition and Taiwo Awoniyi could prove a shrewd buy with the Nigerian striker’s disruptive presence and potential for more goals than his recent time with Forest, should Lampard afford him a run of games. – JR
Coventry searching for first point
Last season’s Championship winners Coventry have had a difficult start to life back in the top flight.
Defeat to Arsenal on the opening day of the campaign was followed by a narrow 1-0 loss to fellow promoted side – and most people’s top candidate for relegation – Hull.
City make flying start to new season
Last time out Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland both scored a brace to seal a win in Enzo Maresca’s first away game.
Cherki has recorded two goals and two assists in his opening two games this season and Maresca has kept the faith in him for his squad to face Coventry.
Two changes for visitors
Ndiaye replaces Foden in the only change for the hosts from their 4-1 win over Crystal Palace, while Coventry boss has made two changes after their defeat to Hull last time out.
Pinnock and Onyeka come in in place of Yirenkyi and Tchaouna.
Fernandez benched but Ndiaye makes debut
There is a start for a big money buy from deadline day but it is Iliman Ndiaye. Enzo Fernandez must wait for his debut. He joins another expensive midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi on the Manchester City bench.
Coventry XI
Coventry XI: Rushworth; Van Ewijk, Amenda, Thomas, Pinnock, Dasilva; Grimes, Onyeka, Rudoni; Mason-Clarke, Awoniyi
Substitutes: Bentley, Sakamoto, Yirenkyi, Simms, Tchaouna, Latieabudiere, Thomas-Asante, Torp, Hamer
Manchester City XI
Man City XI: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol, Anderson, O’Reilly, Ndiaye, Cherki, Semenyo, Haaland
Substitutes: Rulli, Kovacic, Fernandez, Ait-Nouri, Nunes, Bouaddi, Foden, McAidoo, Lewis
Why Enzo Fernandez will either MAKE or BREAK Man City
While we wait for confirmed line-ups (coming shortly), Adam Clery broke down how Man City’s biggest new signing will fit into the squad.
Enzo Fernandez joined from Chelsea in a deal that equals the British transfer record of £125m. This takes Man City’s spending on a ‘new look midfield’ to over £300m, but will this propel them to a serious title challenge this season?
What is the Coventry City team news?
Coventry have no reported injury concerns ahead of their trip to Manchester City. The Championship winners concluded their summer transfer business by signing winger Yann Gboho from Toulouse on deadline day. The 25-year-old is the cousin of PSG and France star Desire Doue.
What is the Manchester City team news?
Enzo Fernandez is “ready” to make his first Manchester City appearance following his record-equalling £125m move from Chelsea on deadline day. Matheus Nunes is fit but Jeremy Doku remains sidelined due to injury. City must make the trip to Portugal to play Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday, which will likely come into Enzo Maresca’s thinking.
