Manchester City return to UEFA Champions League duties as the banana army prepare to welcome back-to-back European champions Paris Saint-Germain to the Etihad Stadium.
Man City wiped the floor with Liverpool in a dominant second-half display on SundayMore Videos
A riveting return to the pitch for Manchester City continues following on from what will be held in Blue folklore as a famous victory under the Anfield glare, which saw a marvellous second-half dispatching of rivals Liverpool synonymised by the welcome return of the inflatable banana brigade.
The Blues made an extravagant return in style, as a gripping first half period which left much to the imagination set the tone for a feisty affair. Manchester City's away end making clear that chants of 'cheats' from the home faithful would bounce off of their banana-coloured suits of armour.
Ryan Gravenberch's second bookable offence swung open the doors for the Cityzens just past the hour mark, and it was Erling Haaland who barged through them three minutes later, barrelling his first time effort into the back crannies of the net.
It was all unravelling for the reds as their fears began to realise - the sight of Jeremy Doku emerging from the bench just after the restart foreshadowing what was to come. The Belgian's trademark cut back and strike was enough to stump Alisson Becker and send the nearby travelling support into raptures.
Rayan Cherki's astute flicker into the danger area would later compound the day's Liverpudlian misery as his turn sent Jeremie Frimpong to the ground before slotting the blues three points clear at the top of the Premier League as the bananas bounced in the background.
Now a rejuvenated Manchester City turn their attention to European champions PSG, who play their first Champions League match away from home on Wednesday night since their victory over Arsenal on penalties in last season's final.
The Cityzens now boast a gleaming record for the start of this season, having won eight from as many matches and holding the league's best defensive record.
The competition's first heavyweight clash of this campaign will turn heads for reasons beyond just the football with Manchester City's Premier League financial breach verdict still very much looming large.
Phil Foden is available for this European venture despite his violent conduct suspension picked up against Manchester United - the Englishman will be raring to slam down a marker in the squad upon his full return.
Here's how we expect the team to look when PSG come to town!
Predicted XI
Gianluigi Donnarumma will don the gloves against his former club. The Italian was the French giant's number 1 goalkeeper during their 2025 Champions League win, beating Inter Milan 5-0 in the final.
On the right of the back line, Matheus Nunes quietly plugs the gaps in Manchester City's performances week by week and plies his trade as one of the club's most important players. His presence in both defensive and attacking situations will offer an extra edge against PSG.
The performances of central duo of Ruben Dias and Marc Guehi have been more than enough to cement their names to Enzo Maresca's team sheet at the start of this season. The dynamism offered by Dias' physical expertise and Guehi's adept ball mastery makes for an easy defensive selection.
Despite playing the majority of the match against Liverpool on Sunday evening, Nico O'Reilly, returning from a knock, may benefit from a rest to ensure his fitness is protected. Josko Gvardiol is more than capable of slotting in to replace the Englishman's forward carries and wide defensive play.
Elliot Anderson comes fresh from yet ANOTHER player-of-the-match performance away to a top six rival, with his excellent engine-like display pushing the Blues three points clear at the top of the table, and with eight wins from eight in all competitions.
Alongside the former Nottingham Forest midfielder, fellow summer acquisition Enzo Fernandez will continue to complement his counterpart to excellence. His rugged and raw playstyle will pose a new threat to Europe's title holders.
Rayan Cherki knows Wednesday's opponents almost as well as any member of the City squad, and after his second half antics in Merseyside last weekend, it's hard to look at not starting the former Lyon man.
Jeremy Doku is a must start. His instant impact from the sidelines at Anfield was bona fide proof of the need for his electric bursts in big games. His playstyle is inevitable and so hard to stop on his day.
Leading the line, Erling Haaland will be looking to pile onto the UCL records he set in City's trip to Porto before the international break, and the Norwegian is expected to make his mark from the front this week.
Iliman Ndiaye may get another chance to shine against PSG. Another member of the former Ligue 1 cohort in the City team, the Senegal international is still awaiting his maiden goal in Sky Blue.
Starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Fernandez; Doku, Cherki, Ndiaye; Haaland
Substitutes: Rulli, Bettinelli, Lewis, Braithwaite, Reis, Khusanov, Kovacic, Samba, Bouaddi, Foden, Allan, McAidoo