The Brazilian is out of the squad with a non-specified injury along with Fabian Delph as Vincent Kompany, Kevin De Bruyne, Benjamin Mendy and Leroy Sane all return to the starting XI.
Riyad Mahrez and Nicolas Otamendi drop to the bench while Bernardo makes a welcome return as a sub.
READ: Where can I watch Palace v City?
Team:
Ederson, Walker, Mendy, Kompany, Laporte, Gundogan, De Bruyne, D Silva, Sterling, Sane, Aguero
Subs: Muric, Danilo, Stones, Bernardo, Mahrez, Otamendi. Jesus
Palace starting XI
📋 Here’s the #CPFC 🦅 line-up for this afternoon’s game against @ManCity. #CRYMCI pic.twitter.com/5eKbIfM4iy
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 14, 2019
Formation: 4-3-3
Mendy slots in at left-back giving the Blues’ defence a balanced look with Kyle Walker on the right and skipper Vincent Kompany partnering Aymeric Laporte in the centre.
Ilkay Gundogan’s excellence in Fernandinho’s absence this season cushions the loss of the influential Brazilian anchor-man and the trusted duo of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva make up the midfield trio.
Up front, the devastating pace of Sane and Raheem Sterling flank Sergio Aguero.
Another day, another ‘final’…
As Pep Guardiola rightly stated, every game City play from now until the end of the campaign is a final.
The champions simply cannot afford top drop points this afternoon and give Liverpool added incentive against Chelsea in the later kick-off.
But make no mistake – this will be a massive test for the Blues.
Palace ended out winning streak last season with a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park and missed a last-minute penalty in the process.
And, of course, the Eagles remain the only team to have left the Etihad with maximum points this season.
Roy Hodgson’s side are all-but safe from the drop now – but whether that makes them more dangerous remains to be seen.
City just have to play at optimum level to put the pressure back on Liverpool as the title races reaches the final strait…
Stats and milestones…
Crystal Palace have never recorded a top-flight double against the reigning champions.
Palace’s win at City was their only victory in 10 league games this season against sides from the established top six, drawing twice and losing seven.
The Eagles have won just 41% of their points at home this season (16 of 39), the lowest percentage in the top flight.
City have won eight successive Premier League games, keeping a clean sheet in six of the last seven.
City will a Club league record by keeping a fourth consecutive clean sheet away from home.
Sergio Aguero is without a goal in all five of his previous appearances at Selhurst Park, but is one short of becoming the second player to score at least 20 Premier League goals in six different seasons.
