Manchester City

Mike Minay, BBC Radio Manchester

Pep Guardiola was absent from today's news conference after testing positive for Covid-19. He will miss tomorrow's FA Cup third round game with Swindon, along with one of his assistants Juanma Lillo.

Rodolfo Borrell will take charge of the team and has been speaking to the media:

• Seven players and 14 members of the first team staff have tested positive. As for Guardiola: "Fortunately he hasn't got a lot of symptoms".

• The squad selection is helped by the large number of cases. Borrell added: "It's one of the easiest line-ups we have had to decide, because we select the ones we have available."

• Some members of the youth teams are expected to travel to Swindon tomorrow.

• The FA Cup is "one of the titles us as players and staff we're more proud to have achieved in the last six years", according to Borrell. "It's important we do well and fight to get to the next stage."

• On Swindon, Borrell said: "There is a lot of history [in the FA Cup] where lesser, smaller teams beat big opponents. It creates a great atmosphere as they try to make their town, their village, their city proud. There is a difference in the quality of players but these are the kind of games where everything gets very close."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City ran out 2-0 winners when they last faced Swindon Town.

In the FA Cup third round in 2002, Paulo Wanchope headed in the opener on eight minutes before ex-Swindon midfielder Kevin Horlock applied the killer blow against his former club.

City were holding a slender one-goal lead midway through the second half when Horlock showed Swindon no favours by scoring the decisive second goal.

The then Second Division Swindon gave a creditable account of themselves against the First Division leaders, but never threatened to cause a cup upset.

They did not manage a single shot on target in the entire 90 minutes, though dogged defending restricted City to few goalscoring chances.

We're already five days into the January transfer window, so here's a brief round-up of the best Manchester City transfer gossip to drop so far:

• City transfer target Dusan Vlahovic is keen to leave Serie A side Fiorentina for the Premier League, reports Italian journalist Ginaluca di Marzio - but Pep Guardiola's playing style might not suit the Serbia striker (Wett Freunde - in German), external.

• Defender Aymeric Laporte could become the fourth player in eight months - after Ferran Torres, Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia - to leave City for the Nou Camp but only if Barcelona sanction a swap for Netherlands midfielder Frenkie De Jong, 24, (El Nacional, via Teamtalk), external.

• City could look to trim their squad by allowing winger Patrick Roberts, 24, to end a loan spell at Troyes to join Sunderland permanently (Football Insider), external as well as listening to offers for young Dutch winger Jayden Braaf, 19 (Manchester Evening News), external.

Catch up with all the latest transfer news by tuning into BBC Radio 5 Live's Transfer Gossip Daily podcast on BBC Sounds.

You can also get all the best transfer chat via our gossip column here and track every done deal throughout January here.

Manchester City visit Swindon Town in the FA Cup on Friday, but who will make it into Pep Guardiola's starting XI?

You'll be able to pick - and share on social media - your own line-up for every City game throughout the campaign.

It's up to you how to approach it - you could go for the team you WANT the boss to pick or the one you THINK he will.

Either way, it's time to choose your City team to face Swindon

Image source, Getty Images

Nathan Ashurst, Rochdale: Everyone says that City need a striker. I'm against that. We have Jesus to play up front as well as Foden, Sterling and Mahrez just to name a few. Not to forget that we have young gems such as Palmer who is capable of playing striker as we have seen! I think the key is to keep hold on to our players rather than bring anyone in.

Les Ingham, Shelton: Running away with it with no striker and a relatively small albeit, world class squad. I would look into Saka as a Pep-style inverted left footed Cancelo, Bellingham as long term replacement for Gundo and possibly Ferna. I would take Haaland if we had to have a number nine.

Waasil Sidik, Milton Keynes: I think that losing Aguero and with Torres now gone too, I feel we need a new forward attacking player. I personally want Haaland because he is the world's biggest young prospect and is a great player. It's clear he wants a move from Dortmund and I think under Pep, he will really shine and develop even more into a world class star than he already is.

Washington Stiglitz, Botswana: We need a proper striker. Haaland will be the best choice since Aguero and can be a long-term addition and instant hit. Kane we can forget about him since Hotspur isn't looking to make any business with us.

Have your say on City's transfer window here

After reports that Borussia Dortmund are keen for Haaland's future to be resolved before the end of the January transfer window, the Telegraph's Luke Edwards thinks the Norwegian is most likely to either join Manchester City or Manchester United.

Speaking on the Transfer Gossip Daily on BBC Sounds, he said: "I think in the summer we talked about Haaland probably more than any other player. He was linked with everybody in the summer and with all the big clubs around Europe.

"Haaland is going to go. This is the showbiz transfer signing. This is the great one. This is the stuff of fantasy football. All the top clubs want to think that Haaland is going to join them.

"I can’t see him leaving this month. I really can’t. Whether they want him to make a decision on where he is going to go in the summer this month, I don’t know.

"He elevates every single forward line in the Premier League if he comes to one of the clubs. Even Manchester City. But quite frankly if Manchester City get him in the summer everyone else will probably just give up for another 12 months.

"Manchester United is the move that sort of captures my imagination the most, but whether he will want to go to  a club that probably by the looks of things won’t be playing in the Champions League next season is another matter entirely.

"That’s why Manchester United’s end to this season is so important so you can get a top-four finish to try and get players like that."

Hear more of the latest transfer rumours on BBC Sounds

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola would be open to letting defender Aymeric Laporte join Barcelona - but only if a deal saw 24-year-old Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong move in return. (El Nacional, via Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

The transfer window opened on Saturday and will remain open for business until 31 January at 23:00 GMT.

But who do you want to see Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola bring in to the club this month? Where does the squad need strengthening?

And are there any players who need to move on?

Give us your views on City's ins and outs here

Nigel Rothband, The Man City Show podcast, external

Well it’s been a good start to 2022. An added-time winner on New Year’s Day at Arsenal, followed by a draw between our closest rivals the following day means City start the new year 10 points ahead of second-place Chelsea.

Standing behind the goal at the Clock End at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, I had a good view of all three goals and the 'controversial' penalty decisions. At the time, and watching them back later, like Arsenal legend Ian Wright, I thought referee Stuart Attwell got both decisions spot on.

Many thought the introduction of VAR would eliminate the sort of debate, argument and disagreement we have all had to put up with following the game. No, it’s not going to change. Whether the on-field referee goes to the monitor or not, it’s still not going to change.

Fouls and penalties are awarded based purely on the opinion of the referee and whether he considers it to be a foul challenge. It’s always been the case and is still the case today.

VAR will not stop different individuals - players, managers, commentators, pundits, referees and even podcasters - having a different opinion about a particular challenge. The introduction of VAR is not going to make us all have the same opinion. The referee’s opinion and their decision is all that matters - and we just need to accept it and move on.

Yes, I was standing behind the goal for the whole 90 minutes, as I have done for over 30 years. The great decision to finally introduce a safe-standing trial at a number of grounds, including Etihad Stadium, for the second half of the season is a decision on which I hope we can all agree.

Image source, Reuters

Manchester City have a habit of "burning away the competition" over Christmas, according to New York Times journalist Rory Smith.

Pep Guardiola's side have rattled off 10 straight wins to open up a 10-point lead at the top of the table after being just one point clear on 6 December.

And Smith says this is something we've seen City do in previous seasons.

"This has happened before with City," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"In the first three months of the seasons, they're good but maybe have a couple of mis-steps, looking like they're trying to find their feet.

"And then from mid-November, they go. They burn away the competition over December and we wake up in mid-January and suddenly City are eight points clear."

Former Chelsea forward Chris Sutton agreed, saying the victory over Arsenal showed title-winning traits.

"It really impressed me how they ground out that result," he said. "The manner of that victory could be really important."

Listen to the full discussion on Manchester City from 20'41 on BBC Sounds

Manchester City defender Nathan Ake has made Garth Crooks' team of the week following his "game-changing" performance in their 2-1 win against Arsenal.

Nathan Ake: The clearance off the line by Nathan Ake against Arsenal was quite brilliant and a game changer. I have seen Ake produce moments like this before when he was playing for Bournemouth. He has proved to be a very cool customer in these situations.

Read what else Garth had to say about Ake, plus see which other players made his team of the week

Mike Minay, BBC Radio Manchester

Pep Guardiola will play it down. Ask a player and whether confident or not, they’ll never tell you the title is looking good for City. But the fans can be quietly optimistic.

In all three festive games, except the first half against Leicester, Manchester City were average but they won all three. Two of those were away from home, the latter against an improved Arsenal side that pushed the Blues all the way. They still won.

As 2022 comes in City have been to Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Leicester, and Arsenal. Six big, tough away grounds. And with the exception of Spurs (when they lacked a host of Brazilian and England stars after their summer exploits) they’ve been unbeaten. All of these teams, apart from Arsenal, have to come to the Etihad.

Home advantage may not be on previous Anfield or Stamford Bridge levels but it’s good, and you’d always rather play at home than away.

So yes, the title isn’t done, but with gaps emerging between the top and the rest, form building and those big home games, you can understand why the fans are beginning to smile.

With the Premier League, Carabao Cup semi-finals and FA Cup third round all taking place this week, BBC Radio 5 Live has you covered.

• Monday, 3 January - Manchester United v Wolves (17:30)

• Wednesday, 5 January - Chelsea v Tottenham (19:45)

• Thursday, 6 January - Arsenal v Liverpool (19:45)

• Friday, 7 January - Swindon Town v Manchester City (20:00)

• Saturday, 8 January - Millwall v Crystal Palace (12:45)

• Saturday, 8 January - Newcastle United v Cambridge United (15:00)

• Saturday, 8 January - Hull City v Everton (17:30)

• Sunday, 9 January - Tottenham v Morecambe (14:00)

• Sunday, 9 January - Nottingham Forest v Arsenal (17:10)

All times GMT

Manchester City's hopes of signing England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham have been boosted by the Hammers' recent form, which has seen the London club slip outside the Champions League qualification spots. Chelsea and Manchester United also remain long-term admirers of the 22-year-old. (Sun), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

The 2-2 draw between Chelsea and Liverpool on Sunday only played into Manchester City's hands, according to former Celtic and Wigan defender Gary Caldwell.

The result leaves Pep Guardiola's side 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League as the Spaniard looks to win his fourth title with City.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily, Caldwell said: "The big winners are Manchester City. With both teams dropping points that puts them in a really strong position now.

"City have been dominant again. They did the same last season when they went on a winning run.

"The last two games they haven’t been their normal controlling self, but they still find a way to win football matches and that is a sign of where the gap lies between City and the rest.

"I think Liverpool are an excellent team, Chelsea are excellent, Arsenal are improving all the time but there is a gap.

"City have that strength in depth. They have that squad so they can go into games, change players, play the same way.

"Even when they aren’t at their best they have enough quality to find a way to win football matches and that is the quality of champions and I’m sure they will be again this year."

Hear more reaction to the weekend's fixtures on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

• Manchester City's win on Saturday means they ended New Year's Day with an 11-point lead at the top of the Premier League table; only Manchester United in 1993-94 and City in 2017-18 (both 12 points) had a bigger lead at the end of 1 January in a season.

• Pep Guardiola has faced Arsenal more often in league competition without losing than any other team throughout his whole managerial career (won 11, drawn one).

• The Gunners have now lost 10 straight league encounters with City, whilst also losing their eighth Premier League game in a row against the competition’s reigning champions.

• Since Mikel Arteta's first game in charge on Boxing Day in 2019, Arsenal have scored 36 Premier League goals via players aged 21 or younger - eight more than any other team.

Alex Bysouth, BBC Sport

If Mikel Arteta wanted to assess how much his Arsenal team have improved this season then playing Premier League leaders Manchester City was the perfect benchmark.

This was a completely different Gunners outfit to the one thumped 5-0 at the Etihad early in the campaign, with Arteta’s side briefly sitting bottom following that defeat.

Arsenal are to some extent City-like, but they out-pressed and outplayed Pep Guardiola’s side until going down to 10 men at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Bukayo Saka’s opener was the reward for Arsenal producing one of their best halves of football in years.

It is unfortunate that all the talk following an incident-packed and entertaining fixture was about the implementation of VAR.

The Gunners felt aggrieved by two penalty decisions – the first when VAR deemed referee Stuart Attwell need not take another look at Ederson’s challenge on Martin Odegaard and the second when it said he should review Granit Xhaka’s foul on Bernardo Silva on the pitchside monitor.

Amid all that drama it was City who ground out an 11th successive victory to move 11 points clear, and surely no one can stop Guardiola’s juggernauts now?

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to Match of the Day: "They were better, they were the better team, we did not have energy. At the end, we played against Brentford, went back to Manchester and came back to London.

"Arsenal struggled in the last years to be in the top four and they started the season in the bottom but have moved up step by step, I felt the energy and connection between the players and we did not have the energy to compete with them.

"In football sometimes you try to analyse the reasons, what we have done, but it is unpredictable - 4-0 against Leicester, in 20 minutes, 4-3. Injuries, Covid and lot of games, these types of situations happen."