Jack Grealish absence explained as Man City star misses blockbuster Liverpool clash

In midfield, Rodri, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva all start.

And, up top, Erling Haaland gets the nod with Jeremy Doku and Julian Alvarez accompanying him.

There is no place in the squad for Grealish, however, with the winger struggling for regular action this season.

The 28-year-old has been restricted to just seven Premier League appearances, with Doku often picked ahead of him.

Yet Grealish is out with an illness today, with the England international not even making the City bench.

The Manchester Evening News say the former Aston Villa star's absence means Guardiola has no choice but to play Doku, who has sparkled since his summer arrival.

City pair Matheus Nunez and Mateo Kovacic are also sidelined with injuries sustained during the last two weeks.

And Kevin De Bruyne is still regaining his fitness, too, having made just one Premier League appearance so far.

Liverpool have also put out a strong side as they look to stop City this afternoon.

Alisson Becker starts between the sticks, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk and Kostas Tsmimikas making up their back four.

In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister partners Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai.

And Liverpool have gone with a front three of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota as they look to leave the Etihad with all three points.

Guardiola has been asked about his rivalry with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp as the big match of the weekend nears.

The Spaniard has hailed his Reds counterpart, insisting he's helped him become a better manager over the years.

“Yes, by far. Because we have faced each other a thousand million times," Guardiola said when asked if he considered Klopp to be his greatest rival.

“Absolutely, he made me better, he helped me reflect on a lot of things with the problems they have created for us, it’s part of when you are many years in this business, him and his teams, here and Dortmund have always been big rivals, good games for both, both teams have a positive approach to the games and always attractive.

“I’m pretty sure he made me a better manager through his teams, and of course, the way we play for them is good with the transitions, they have a lot of space in behind, they are fantastic with the runs, they are a fantastic team, fantastic legs, a top side, no doubt.”

Liverpool boss Klopp, meanwhile, thinks all eyes will be on Saturday's match.

“It’s just a super-exciting football game,” said Klopp.

“One of these I would watch wherever I was on the planet.

"Why wouldn’t you watch this game? There’s everything there you would need.

“A lot of things can happen. We can play bad and lose, possibly. We play bad and win – I would say that’s unlikely, almost impossible against City.

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"We can play very good and don’t win, that’s possible because that’s football.

"And all would happen to exactly the same team.

"Because this team doesn’t have to pass a test now. The direction we’re going is the right one, that’s obvious.”