Crystal Palace vs Manchester City predicted lineups and team news
Premier League champions Manchester City will aim to continue their road to recovery in the capital on Saturday as they head to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace at 3pm (UK time).
Crystal Palace vs Man City team news
Crystal Palace will again be without long-term absentees Chadi Riad, Rob Holding and Matheus Franca, while the game is likely to come too soon for key midfielder Adam Wharton.
Japan international Daichi Kamada is back from suspension but, while he is an option in midfield or attack, Oliver Glasner is unlikely to tweak the side which won so impressively at Portman Road.
Rodri and Oscar Bobb are still some way off a return for City, meanwhile. Rodri, in particular, has been a big miss for the champions and matters are made worse by the fact that his two most suitable replacements, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic, are also sidelined.
Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji were both forced off against Forest and are unlikely to feature in the capital, meaning Kyle Walker and Rico Lewis should come back into the side.
Crystal Palace vs Man City predicted XIs
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Doucoure, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta.
Manchester City (4-1-4-1): Ortega; Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis; Gundogan; Silva, De Bruyne, Grealish, Doku; Haaland.
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Man City to continue road to recovery?
Never before in his managerial career had Pep Guardiola gone seven games without a win, but City’s trip to Anfield last weekend left the Spaniard, fans and pundits bewildered as the champions were beaten 2-0 by the runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool to make it six defeats and one draw in an unlucky number seven for the Citizens boss.
Guardiola was clearly keen to prevent an eighth straight game without a win as he shuffled his pack for Wednesday’s visit of Nottingham Forest, bringing Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne into midfield and reinstating Jeremy Doku in attack.
His tactical tweaks paid off as the champions beat Forest 3-0 thanks to goals from De Bruyne, Doku and Bernardo Silva, although it wasn’t entirely plain sailing.
Stefan Ortega made a great save at 1-0 and, at the same scoreline, Chris Wood had the whole of the Etihad holding their breath as he raced through one-on-one only to uncharacteristically pull his shot wide.
A trip to Selhurst Park is not the most straightforward and Crystal Palace have regularly been a thorn in City’s side in the past, drawing two and winning one of the pair’s last six meetings – a record that is far better than most against Guardiola’s juggernaut.
Palace are in a relegation battle but one defeat in seven and a crucial 1-0 win over Ipswich on Tuesday means they have the capabilities to cause some issues for City.
