Man City may need new masterplan for Manchester United as setback forces Pep Guardiola to act

For the second time in a month, a look at the Manchester City front three that won the Treble was cut short.

City started brilliantly in the Champions League against Copenhagen but saw Jack Grealish forced off after just 20 minutes with a groin injury. They looked lively again at Luton in his first start since then, only for the former Villa man to limp out of the first half with what appears to be a recurrence of the problem.

It is a bitter blow for Grealish, who simply cannot get going this season and had to be consoled by teammates as he took his place on the bench. City will also feel the pain, with it less coincidental with every match that the Blues look a better unit with Grealish in the side.

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When Pep Guardiola had to think again after Copenhagen, the solution was evident. Jeremy Doku came back into the side on the left with Julian Alvarez behind Erling Haaland and alongside Kevin De Bruyne, with Phil Foden pushing wide. That had limited success against Chelsea, even if better finishing from Haaland would likely have produced a victory.

The last few weeks have seen a shift in influence in the squad though, not least Foden's claiming of the central space. Guardiola tweaked his tune on that role after watching the Stockport playmaker glide through a Bournemouth game in which most of his teammates struggled.

Questions remain over whether Foden and De Bruyne can play in the middle together, although having Bernardo Silva to tuck behind in midfield as he did at Luton provides additional cover. If it is taken that those four and Haaland will start against United,