Man City predicted lineup vs Crystal Palace - Premier League
- Manchester City face an in-form Crystal Palace side at the Etihad Stadium
- Not many personnel changes for Pep Guardiola with key players still missing
- Pep Guardiola likely to reintroduce wingers but no Erling Haaland up front
There's work for Manchester City to do down the stretch if they're to secure Champions League football for next season, but the Cityzens have been aided by the fact that the Premier League's top five will qualify for Europe's premier club competition.
A goalless stalemate at Old Trafford not only sparked an existential debate about the product currently on show, but saw City slip down to sixth in the table. However, just a point separates them and the two teams directly above them.
Thus, they've got the chance to put some pressure on Chelsea and Newcastle before their respective home games this weekend.
Guardiola's ploy of clogging the midfield, which left City bereft of width, contributed to a stodgy derby at Old Trafford, so there's got be a reversion at the Etihad. Here's how City could line up for Crystal Palace's visit.
Man City predicted lineup vs Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1)
GK: Ederson - Ederson has enjoyed a run in the Premier League XI after sharing minutes with Stefan Ortega for a period. He's a shoo-in to continue in the team.
RB: Matheus Nunes - Guardiola offered the backhandiest of compliments to Nunes in the week, explaining why he can function at right-back but not in midfield.
CB: Ruben Dias - Dias has his work cut out if he's to tame the threat supplied by Jean-Philippe Mateta at the Etihad.
CB: Abdukodir Khusanov - The January addition dropped to the bench for the Manchester Derby but could return to the XI here to help combat Palace's speed on the counter.
LB: Josko Gvardiol - Nico O'Reilly has emerged for the Cityzens, but Guardiola could revert to using Gvardiol on the left side of his defence here with greater security required in defensive transition.
CM: Nico Gonzalez - Gonzalez was a curious omission from last Sunday's game, given that he's enjoyed a pretty good start to his Man City career.
CM: Ilkay Gundogan - Guardiola won't want to leave the veteran midfielder on an island against this Palace team, but Gundogan has performed well in recent outings.
RW: Savinho - Savinho has sparkled at times during his debut season in Manchester, but the Brazilian's campaign is seemingly winding down. Can he find another gear this weekend?
AM: Phil Foden - Kevin De Bruyne's farewell tour started last weekend with a start in the derby, but the Belgian isn't going to be a constant down the stretch. Expect Foden, who, along with a summer addition, will be tasked with filling De Bruyne's void, to start in the primary creative function on Saturday.
LW: Jeremy Doku - He's imperfect, but there's always a sense that something could happen when Doku picks up the ball down the left. Palace are likely to double-up on him, but the Belgian's shown that he boasts the requisite explosiveness and quick feet to beat a tag team.
ST: Omar Marmoush - The goalscoring burden lies on Marmoush's shoulders in Erling Haaland's absence. The sharp-shooting Egyptian was bright in the derby and will be keen to add to his tally against a potentially depleted Palace backline.
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