Pep Guardiola makes a surprising major adjustment to his Man City starting lineup for the Liverpool match.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made a bold decision by altering his starting XI for their crucial top-of-the-table clash against Liverpool.

City are enduring a difficult period, failing to win in their last six matches across all competitions, including a 3-3 draw with Feyenoord on Tuesday. After that game, Guardiola described his team’s defensive performance as “weak” and “fragile,” highlighting their instability at the back.

In response, Guardiola has opted to start Stefan Ortega in goal, replacing first-choice keeper Ederson. Ruben Dias also returns to the lineup for the high-stakes encounter at Anfield, while Ilkay Gundogan, Matheus Nunes, Bernardo Silva, and Phil Foden join Erling Haaland in the attack.

The decision to play Ortega sparked mixed reactions from fans. One supporter commented, “Ortega starting – I can’t say I didn’t expect this. Always reliable when needed. Come on, Stefan!” Another remarked, “City are a better team with Ederson, but given the defensive issues, trying Ortega might not be a bad idea.” Others expressed faith in Ortega, with one saying, “In Stefan Ortega we trust,” while another noted Ederson’s recent struggles.

Ahead of the match, Guardiola emphasized the importance of injured players like John Stones returning to bolster the team, saying, “The only chance we come back is if John Stones is back – and he’ll be out for a long time.”

As City aim to end their poor run and close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool, all eyes will be on Guardiola’s tactical gamble. Will it

pay off?