Man City could field two separate starting XIs next season after Haaland and Alvarez transfers

More pressure will be put on Manchester City's players next season than ever before, with a Premier League title to defend, two domestic trophies to compete for, a Champions League to win and the small matter of a World Cup right in the middle of the season.

If City reach the finals of all three competitions, and any members of the squad reach the World Cup semi-finals, they would play at least 78 games in 11 months. As Gareth Bale pointed out, between now and the 2023 Champions League final, these players will get just three weeks off in a year - the next three weeks coming up.

So while City built their success this season on a smaller-than-usual squad, they may be tempted to share the minutes around next season so their players don't get burned out. It helps, then, that they are closing in on two top-quality starting XIs to rotate in the next 12 months.

ALSO READ:'He could play 79 games next season!' - Gareth Bale defends Man City star Kevin De Bruyne in rant over fixture calendar

Starting with City's 'first choice' line-up, Ederson is an easy choice in goal. Kyle Walker remains the top right-back, despite Joao Cancelo's brilliance on both sides, while this line-up can take two of City's four centre-backs as their pairing at the back. For argument's sake, and the balance of having a left-footer in the defence, this can be Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte.

In order to have a strong right-back in the 'second team', Oleksandr Zinchenko completes the backline, with Rodri a sure-fire pick in defensive midfield.

Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva are a solid midfield pairing and will be hard to unseat in the big games, while new striker Erling Haaland must be City's leading man through the middle in front of them. Like the