Pep Guardiola has two Man City selection policies to choose from vs Liverpool

The runners or the lockpickers; Pep Guardiola has a big selection dilemma in the forward line when Manchester City take on Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final.

Battered, bruised, but ultimately successful, City return to the UK from a gruelling Champions League quarter-final second-leg in the knowledge they have now navigated three quarters of a daunting fortnight schedule.

It started with the first-leg against Atletico Madrid last Tuesday, where Kevin De Bruyne’s lone goal was enough to earn victory on the night – and eventually in the tie. That came a comfortable home game against the Spanish champions, but an end-to-end affair with Liverpool in the Premier League – which ended 2-2 – was physically and mentally exhausting.

Combining that week with the chaotic second-leg at the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday, the City players will be understandably sapped of energy and Guardiola will have a tough task to refocus their minds on an important semi-final clash.

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With such a demanding schedule, the Catalan boss has shuffled the pack in the forward line for each fixture. It has become clear that, with the personnel available, City have two different ways to operate in attacking areas, dependent on the opposition.

Against Atletico Madrid in the first-leg, Guardiola surprised a few when he decided to line-up with Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling in the front three. They are two exceptionally gifted footballers, but their abilities are able to shine when there is an opportunity to run in-behind defences, rather than against Diego Simeone’s low block.

It was telling that shortly after Phil Foden’s introduction to proceedings, he was able to