Abdukodir Khusanov’s potential debut against Newcastle

Today, February 15, the 25th round of the English Premier League will continue with Manchester City hosting Newcastle at home.

Abdukodir Khusanov Likely to Start

Due to an increase in injured players at Manchester City, including a recent injury to key defender Manuel Akanji during the match against Real Madrid, head coach Pep Guardiola is expected to make changes to the squad. Notably, there is growing speculation that Uzbek player Abdukodir Khusanov may play in the center of defense. Currently, there is no better option than Khusanov, especially since Stones could be moved to a supporting midfield role due to the absence of Nico and Rodri.

If Rico Lewis is positioned on the wing, a central defensive pairing of Ruben Dias and Khusanov is possible. Although Nathan Ake is also an option, his recent return from injury suggests he might start on the bench. Khusanov's impressive performance and goal in the cup match against Leyton have strengthened his case for a starting spot. However, the final lineup decision rests with coach Pep Guardiola.

Manchester City Could Climb to 4th Place

Manchester City currently sits in 5th place in the Premier League standings with 41 points before the 25th round. Their opponent, Newcastle, also has 41 points and is in 6th place. Both teams are motivated to secure a win, especially after Chelsea's 3-0 defeat to Brighton, leaving them with 43 points. A victory for either Manchester City or Newcastle would propel them to 4th place. In case of a draw, both teams would have 42 points and maintain their positions, unless Bournemouth wins away at Southampton. If Bournemouth wins, they would accumulate 43 points, climbing from 7th to 5th place.

Predicted Lineups

Renowned publications such as One Football, Sportsmole, and Opta have shared their predicted lineups for the Manchester City vs. Newcastle match:

One Football's Prediction:
Ederson, Nunez, Dias, Stones, Guardiola, Kovacic, Bernardo, Gundogan, Foden, Marmus, Haaland.
Substitutes: Moreno, Lewis, Khusanov, Reis, Ake, Nico, De Bruyne, Maketi, Savinho.

Sportsmole's Prediction:
Ortega, Nunez, Dias, Ake, Guardiola, Nico, Kovacic, Savinho, Foden, Marmus, Haaland.

Opta's Prediction:
Ederson, Lewis, Dias, Ake, Guardiola, Stones, Foden, Savinho, Bernardo, De Bruyne, Haaland.

All three sources have placed Abdukodir Khusanov on the bench, reflecting varied predictions and assumptions. As mentioned earlier, the final lineup will be determined by Guardiola.

The clash between Manchester City and Newcastle is scheduled for today, February 15, at 20:00.