Kelechi to slay Eagles again?
Can Kelechi Iheanacho make it three in a row against Palace? The 18-year-old has scored in both games he’s played against the Eagles this season with his first a last-gasp winner at Selhurst Park and the second came in the 5-1 Capital One Cup win.
With five goals already under his belt this season, the Nigerian will be looking to further press his claims for more regular action if he finds the net again today.
Fabian Delph and Fernando will work the engine room again, just as they did in the 3-0 win over Norwich a fortnight last weekend, with Fernandinho still injured and Yaya Toure rested.
Today’s starting XI plus subs looks like this:
Hart, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Demichelis, Kolarov, Fernando, Delph, De Bruyne, Silva, Aguero, Iheanacho Subs: Caballero, Clichy, Sagna, Humphreys, Toure, Sterling, Navas
Defence: 200 up for Zaba
Pablo Zabaleta will make his 200th Premier League appearance for City this afternoon - his 286th in all competitions. Zaba has made just two Premier League starts this campaign with City beating Newcastle 6-1 and Bournemouth 5-1 - if the sequence continues City should win 4-1 today!
Attack: Kun and Kelechi
Sergio Aguero will resume the partnership with Iheanacho again with the pair both linking up well and scoring against Norwich last week. Kun has never scored against Palace so today could be the day...
Formation:
On paper, it looks a pretty straightforward 4-4-2 with Silva and De Bruyne operating wide. Delph and Fernando will be getting their hands dirty in the engine room but expect Zabaleta and Kolarov to add plenty of wide options down the flanks. Martin Demichelis and Nicolas Otamendi will be targeting a third straight clean sheet - a feat not achieved by any defensive City central pairing since August.
Bench:
Cameron Humphreys retains his spot as a sub with Yaya, Raheem Sterling, Jesus Navas, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Willy Caballero completing a strong-looking back-up team.
Opposition: Palace line-up...
