Man City DROP Kevin de Bruyne for Tottenham clash as Pep Guardiola rings changes after Man Utd derby defeat

KEVIN DE BRUYNE has been DROPPED for Manchester City's game with Tottenham.

The City captain has started all-but one Premier League match this season but finds himself on the bench for the visit of Antonio Conte's side.

The only other time the midfielder found himself out of the starting XI for a league game was for the 6-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

And on that occasion he was rested.

But De Bruyne has paid the price for his performance in the Manchester derby defeat on Saturday.

The Belgian did assist Jack Grealish's opener, but his side dropped more points in their pursuit of leaders Arsenal following a late collapse.

De Bruyne isn't the only high-profile name to drop out of the side though.

Pep Guardiola has made two changes to his back four with John Stones and Rico Lewis replacing Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo.

Meanwhile, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva also drop out with Julian Alvarez partnering Erling Haaland up front, while Grealish returns.

In total, Guardiola has made FIVE changes to his side from the 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford.

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That's despite City badly needing to win to keep up their fading title hopes with the gap to the Gunners currently eight points.

But with Arsenal not in action until late on Sunday, beating Spurs and then Wolves would leave them just two adrift of Mikel Arteta's men.

Tottenham have also made changes with Emerson Royal, Ben Davies and Rodrigo Bentancur replacing Clement Lenglet, Matt Doherty and Pape Matar Sarr.