PREDICTED LINEUP - MANCHESTER CITY VS SHEFFIELD UNITED - LEWIS STARTS, FODEN TO COME OFF THE BENCH

Manchester City travel to Wembley Stadium to take on Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi finals, with the Blues looking to reach the FA Cup final for the first time since 2019.

Guardiola's side have been eliminated at this stage for the past 3 seasons, with the 52 year old Catalan labelling the FA Cup semi final one of the toughest matches of the whole season, regardless of the opposition.

This is because City have just two days to rest and recuperate, and that includes a flight back from Germany, after City got the job done at the Allianz Arena 2 nights ago with a solid 1-1 draw against German champions Bayern Munich.

Sheffield United are the only Championship side left in the FA Cup, but they're not to be taken lightly. The Blades are currently second in the Championship, and have lit up the division with positive, attacking football. Unfortunately for them, they'll be missing two key players in midfield, as on loan City players Tommy Doyle and James McAtee are both ineligible to play against their parent club.

Sheffield will also be looking to exploit any tiredness or rustiness in the City side, as Guardiola looks almost certain to rotate his key players to give them rest before the all important Premier League match against Arsenal on Wednesday night.

A win for City, however, would see them play in the FA Cup final, where they'd face either Brighton and Hove Albion or local rivals Manchester United. Surprisingly, City have won the FA Cup just once under Guardiola, coming in 2019, as two goals from Gabriel Jesus, two from Raheem Sterling, one from David Silva and one from Kevin de Bruyne gave City a sensational 6-0 win over Watford, to complete a historic domestic treble.

City are the current favourites to win the FA Cup, and they'll be hoping that they can win not just the FA Cup, but a possible treble as well, with City in good positions to win both the Premier League and the FA Cup.

Here's how we think City will line up, as they travel down to Wembley Stadium:

As this is a cup competition, expect to see 30 year old German Stefan Ortega-Moreno start in goal.

Boyhood Sheffield United fan Kyle Walker could start at right back, as he looks to build up his match fitness with vital minutes. Ruben Dias seems to be ever present at centre back, so we expect him to start, with the possibility of a substitution if City are in a comfortable position, and he'll be partnered by Aymeric Laporte. We also think 18 year old full back Rico Lewis will start at left back, in his first appearance since the last FA Cup match against Burnley.

Usual holding midfielder Rodri looked exhausted by the end of the Bayern Munich game, so he shouldn't start this match. In fact, if City had a larger squad, I'd be tempted to leave him out of the squad completely, to resist the temptation of bringing him on. This means Kalvin Phillips will start at the base of midfield. Ahead of him, we can expect to see Ilkay Gundogan, who got a rest last weekend, and Julian Alvarez, who'll provide the directness and energy in midfield, as he buzzes off the main striker.

Riyad Mahrez should start on the right wing, to give Bernardo Silva a rest. We think we could also see a rare start for Cole Palmer on the left wing, as Phil Foden isn't ready to start yet, after only just returning from a month long absence, and Jack Grealish has had a lot of football under his belt in recent months.

Up front, Erling Haaland could be set to start, as he has been substituted early a lot recently, completing the full 90 minutes in just 3 of his last 8 appearances. Haaland is a crucial player, so there would, of course, be an eye towards another potential early substitution.

Nathan Ake's injury means City's bench will be Ederson, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Sergio Gomez, Rodri, Maximo Perrone, Kevin de Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, with the latter surely set to come on for some vital minutes.

CMON CITY!!!