Manchester City face Stoke at the Etihad Stadium
Manchester City have made an impressive start to their title defence and will be looking for a third straight win when they play host to Stoke City.
The Premier League champions are already moving ominously through the gears, with a comfortable opening weekend success at Newcastle United followed up by a convincing 3-1 victory at home to last season’s closest challengers Liverpool.
Having put down an early marker, Manuel Pellegrini will be looking for his side to enter the international break with a perfect record intact.
A return to action in mid-September will see UEFA Champions League fixtures, including an opener against Bayern Munich, added to their schedule, so early points on the board are imperative if back-to-back crowns are to be chased down.
Stoke, under the guidance of former City boss Mark Hughes, will head to the north west on Saturday aware that their record at the Etihad Stadium makes for dismal reading.
They have failed to collect a single point or find the target on six previous visits, with 15 goals conceded during that run.
Hughes will be hoping to buck that trend this weekend, with his side still looking for their first win of the campaign after opening with a defeat by Aston Villa and a draw away at Hull City.
Team news
Manchester City boss Pellegrini has a striking decision to make this weekend, with Sergio Aguero pushing for a starting berth.
Edin Dzeko, who is carrying a slight knock, has impressed alongside in-form Stevan Jovetic so far, but City will be expected to turn to Argentine hit-man Aguero at some stage in the near future.
Another frontman, Alvaro Negredo, remains sidelined with a broken metatarsal, while big-money signing Eliaquim Mangala will see his debut delayed until after the international break as he works on his fitness.
On-loan Chelsea winger Victor Moses is likely to start on the bench for Stoke despite impressing on his debut in midweek.
The Nigeria international featured significantly in the Capital One Cup victory over Portsmouth, but is not yet fit enough to play 90 minutes.
Utility player Geoff Cameron is out with a thigh problem sustained in the cup game, but defender Phil Bardsley and forward Bojan Krkic could be fit after being rested on Wednesday.
Paul Merson’s prediction
Stoke haven’t had a great start and found it hard playing against the 10 men of Hull, especially when they went 1-0 down. I don’t worry about Stoke because I think they will have enough this season, but I do worry about them on Saturday against Man City. It’s extraordinary how they can turn it on and off like a tap. In the first 30 minutes on Monday night, Liverpool were as comfortable as I’ve seen an away team at the Etihad – but then bang - City turn it on and they are 3-0 up in no time. Stoke will have a shape and will work hard, but you need to concentrate for 94 minutes. They would need an almighty performance to get anything from this game.