Manchester City are looking to increase their lead at the top of the Premier League by meeting Watford at the Etihad Stadium.
The Blues are currently one point behind Liverpool in the title race, and with Anfield in action in the Merseyside derby on Sunday, City can put pressure on them by outperforming four points.
City are waiting for news of the availability of John Stones and Nathan Ake, after both gave up the victory in the middle of the week against Brighton. while Kyle Walker will definitely miss it.
The guests are deep in relegation problems, sitting on seven safety points with only eight games to go.
Follow all our updates, analyzes and reactions from Etihad Stadium below.
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37 ‘- City 3-1 Watford Joe Bray
There must be four!
Gabriel Jesus is doing brilliantly again to keep him alive on the right, and his reduction finds Rahim Stirling at the penalty spot without scars. But he leans back and shoots well.
33 ‘- City 3-1 WatfordKEY EVENT
Rodry scores!
What a finale !!
Kevin De Bruyne is down after a late challenge, but Gabriel Jesus keeps him alive on the right. When he crosses to Rodri outside the penalty area, the Spaniard passes De Bruyne, inflicts him with his chest and puts him in the corner for the first time. Stunning goal.
27 ‘- City 2-1 WatfordKEY EVENT
GOAL – Watford score
The city was cut short and Hassane Kamara fired in the lower corner. Could Ederson have done better?
26 ‘- City 2-0 Watford Stuart Brennan
Jesus speaks in the field
There is a lot of talk this week that Jesus is leaving this summer, and this is not a big surprise, given the lack of opportunities and the likely arrival of a big striker plus Julian Alvarez.
But he made one last big impression of this race for the title with two quick goals – ironically, exactly what he did not do enough.
Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City
22 ‘- City 2-0 WatfordKEY EVENT
GOAL – Jesus again!
Gabriel Jesus shoots well but he has a deflected shot which is saved by the opponent’s keeper. Kevin De Bruyne wraps his boot around the ball from the right wing and hits a beautiful ball right on the Brazilian’s head.
20 ‘- City 1-0 Watford Joe Bray
Watford wants a penalty
There was a handball shout in City’s penalty area against Rodri when he blocked Dennis’ cross in the fall, but nothing was given and there was no VAR review.
16 ‘- City 1-0 Watford Stuart Brennan
More credit to Zinchenko
Zinchenko’s defensive abilities have been tested since he started playing left-back and he has not always been able to withstand that control.
But this game to stop Dennis in what seemed to be a one-on-one with Ederson was exceptional – he is working hard in this part of his game and it paid off at this important time.
15 ‘- City 1-0 Watford Joe Bray
Almost a second
Ben Foster beat Joao Cancello. And then a leg protruded to divert Gabriel Jesus’ waist from his blue shirt.
12 ‘- City 1-0 Watford Joe Bray
Zinchenko is doing brilliantly
Joao Cancello is deprived of property in the center, and Emmanuel Denis is free. But Alex Zinchenko did a brilliant job of sliding from behind and throwing it away as he tried to shoot.
9 ‘- City 1-0 Watford Joe Bray
Corner City
Joao Cancello is looking for Stirling and Jesus on the six-yard line, waiting to hit, but is cleared for a corner.
5 ‘- City 1-0 Watford Joe Bray
Singing the blues
City fans sing the Blues and mention a certain defeat for United over lunch. No sign of nerves on Wednesday.
5 ‘- City 1-0 Watford Joe Bray
Singing the blues
City fans sing the Blues and mention a certain defeat for United over lunch. No sign of nerves on Wednesday.
4 ‘- City 1-0 WatfordKEY EVENT
GOAL – Jesus scores!
Cancello’s cross was above all, but Zinchenko kept him alive and his low center was prompted by Jesus.
3 ‘- City 0-0 Watford Joe Bray
Early stop
Ismaila Sarr fell when Aleks Zinchenko caught him near the corner flag. It was accidental, but high in the back of his thigh. Sar was offside, so there was no free kick, but it took him a few minutes to get to his feet.
1 ‘- City 0-0 Watford Joe Bray
Early formation
He looks like Gabriel Jesus on the right, Rahim Stirling on the left and Jack Grillish in the middle.
Rodri is in the midfield and Fernandinho is right in front of him.
1 ‘- City 0-0 Watford Joe Bray
Get started
The players kneel and we leave.
14:56 Joe Bray
The teams are out
Etihad has a good voice as players leave.
14:43 Joe Bray
U18 are approaching the title
Dissatisfied with the Premier League title 2, U18 could win their Northern Division in the U18 Premier League next time against Newcastle next Saturday after a big 7-1 victory today.
The youngsters are seven points ahead of Liverpool with three games left and can even win it without kicking another ball while Liverpool play on Tuesday afternoon. Lose to Forest, and the title is City’s. Draw and City will only need a point against Newcastle.
If they finish the Northern Division, they will face the winners of the Southern League – probably Southampton or West Ham – to be crowned national winners under 18.
14:33 Joe Bray
I’m warming up
Etihad starts to fill up on a rare Saturday start at 3pm here. City substitutes just pass the ball around, and Nathan Ake seems to be running smoothly.
CJ Egan-Riley is the only substitute with the starters as they pass the ball in some small practice, probably to make up for the numbers.
14:19 Joe Bray
Bernardo died
It may be important that Bernardo Silva is on the bench and Real Madrid is next. Guardiola could not make much rotation in defense, but gave a break to Bernardo and Ilkay Gundogan in front of Kevin De Bruyne. It is probably fair to assume that these two will start on Tuesday, as well as Phil Foden, who is also a deputy today.
MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 26: Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde fights for the ball with Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan during the first match of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals between Real Madrid and Manchester City on 26 February at the Bernabeu , Spain. (Photo by Diego Souto / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images)
14:12 Joe Bray
Busy 24 hours for three players
Cole Palmer played 45 minutes last night for the U23s, and Luc Mbette played the full 90. They are both on the bench, along with CJ Egan-Riley, who was in Leeds but not on the team.
For them, it is a realistic test that although they won the academic title less than 24 hours ago, the first team always comes first. Not that they will complain about the participation of another team in the Premier League.
Luke Mbette
14:05 Stuart Brennan
How will Fernandinho be used?
It will be interesting to see how Pep Guardiola uses Fernandinho today – of course, he was a boxing midfielder long before he took on the role of defender.
His inclusion allows Gundogan and Bernardo to rest just before Real Madrid on Tuesday and we can expect De Bruyne to come out relatively early, especially if City manages to establish a winning lead.
14:00 KEY EVENT
The news for the city team has been confirmed
He starts for Fernandinho and Rodri in the midfield, Jack Grillish ahead.
13:49 Joe Bray
Watch the players arrive
13:48 Joe Bray
Full staff
Cole Palmer is on after playing 45 minutes on his return from injury last night for the U23s.
13:42 Joe Bray
One starter confirmed?
It’s no surprise that Alex Zinchenko seems to be starting, given that Kyle Walker is out.
13:39 Joe Bray
Stones or Walker are absent from the squad
Ake is involved.
13:38 Joe Bray
Madrid considerations
Pep Guardiola insisted that he will not think about the match with Real Madrid until full time today and is probably right in a tactical sense.
However, since Joao Cancello has been punished for this and Kyle Walker has doubts, Guardiola will have to decide how to manage his defense during this clash with Watford so that they arrive against Madrid in the best possible form. The problems for Nathan Ake and John Stones do not help, leaving a scenario in which Alex Zinchenko may be the only available option as a full-back against Vinicius Jr. and Rodrigo.
There is also an argument for a break for some midfielders and strikers today, with a match of Watford, which should be able to win with a little rotation.
We’ll find out in about 20 minutes.
Kyle Walker injured City against Atletico (Image: 2022 Visionhaus)
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