I agree with those on here that are saying that this is the title game. A City win and it's tough to see them dropping any of their remaining games in the form they have shown over the last couple of months. Additionally, it feels like that result would just about break our collective spirit and I would be surprised if we finished off the league fixtures with maximum points. However, if we were to win, the title would be all but ours. A draw leaves a little more to play for.
I am trying to stay positive but it's getting hard to imagine how we will go in there on Sunday and come out with a win. City is much more rested, have their talisman (Cherki) in great form and it even looks like O'Reilly is going to be recovered in time to play after coming off early with a hammy against Chelsea. Meanwhile, we have uphill fitness battles for a few of our lynchpins - Saka, Odegaard, Timber and Calafiori, and our other stalwarts look absolutely knackered (Rice especially). Personally, I think we need to get at least two of the aforementioned four injured players back for this game to have a chance. I think we can make do without one of our first choice fullbacks but not both of them. My preference would be to get Calafiori back since he will help against the City press the most. I'd also like to get Odegaard back in the side to help with our control.
Finally, we absolutely cannot march out the Martinelli-Gyokeres-Madueke frontline again. It does not work. I'm hopeful that Havertz will start since he looked to be getting rested. If Saka can't go and Madueke is hurt, I'd want us to go with Martinelli on the right and either Trossard or Eze on the left (Eze if Odegaard is playing, Trossard if Eze is in the midfield). We desperately need to platform more of our technical players or it will be more of the same that we have been seeing.
My ideal lineup (assuming Saka, Odegaard, Madueke and Timber are out):
Trossard - Havertz - Martinelli
Rice - Zubimendi - Eze
Calafiori - Gabriel - Saliba - White
Raya
