Pep Guardiola can give Man City midfield what they had in glorious 2014 run-in

In 2013/14, under the new management of Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City romped to a Premier League and League Cup double while playing an exciting brand of attacking football.

Much like Roberto Mancini's City side, different variations of the 4-4-2 produced goals from all over the pitch. Sergio Agüero always led the way, but the likes of Edin Dzeko, Alvaro Negredo, David Silva and Samir Nasri all chipped in with their own contributions.

Players were interchanging, combining with each other and causing havoc for the oppositions backline with explosive movement and unpredictable attacking sequences. But what allowed all that to happen was the base of Fernandinho and Yaya Toure in central midfield.

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Natural double-pivots have been few and far between, though, since Pep Guardiola took over. Mainly owing to the genius of Fernandinho and Rodri, the Catalan has been able to play two number eights in advanced positions without much fear of a lightning fast counter-attack from the opposition.

But Toure and Fernandinho complemented each other well during the 2013/14 campaign and it unlocked a version of the Ivorian that will never be topped. Some 29 goal contributions from a player many considered a 'defensive midfielder' was just ludicrous and is a testament to Toure's undeniable quality — but it all began with that solid structure.

Without Fernandinho, there would have been no Toure magic that season. And looking ahead to the new campaign, it is a formation that Guardiola can reprise with a particular new signing — Kalvin Phillips.

The Yorkshire-born midfielder made his long-awaited switch to the Etihad Stadium