Kyle Walker, Rico Lewis, Savinho and Matheus Nunes all come into the starting line-up from the side that beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the Etihad in midweek.
Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake both miss out this afternoon as a result of the injuries each picked up in that victory while Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku revert to the bench
Oscar Bobb, Rodri, Mateo Kovacic and John Stones all remain sidelined through injury with Phil Foden (illness) also unavailable for selection this afternoon.
Team news
CRYSTAL PALACE XI: Henderson, Mitchell, Guehi, Lacroix, Chalobah, Munoz, Lerma, Hughes, Eze, Sarr, Mateta
Subs: Turner, Ward, Clyne, Richards, Doucoure, Schlupp, Devenny, Kamada, Nketiah
CITY XI: Ortega, Walker (C), Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis, Gundogan, Bernardo, De Bruyne, Savinho, Nunes, Haaland
Subs: Ederson, Carson, Grealish, Doku, Wright, Simpson-Pusey, O’Reilly, McAtee, Wilson-Esbrand
Tactics
Stefan Ortega Moreno again begins in goal this afternoon with the German ‘keeper set to be shielded by a back four of returning skipper Walker, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Lewis.
Ilkay Gundogan is expected to be the holding anchor with Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva also deployed alongside the German in the midfield engine room.
Erling Haaland will be City’s central attacking focus with Savinho and Nunes potentially providing the width – though such is City’s tactical and technical flexibility that formation could well change!
The Eagles lair
Selhurst Park has acquired a deserved reputation for being one of the most demanding and intimidating of Premier League venues.
However, City will step out this afternoon buoyed by the fact we have built up a fine recent run of form at the south London ground.
Since a 2-1 defeat there in April 2015, City have gone on to win seven out of our last nine Premier League games at Selhurst Park.
The most recent was last April’s memorable 4-2 success - a victory which proved a vital staging post en-route to our historic fourth consecutive Premier League title.
It was also a game that saw the irrepressible Kevin De Bruyne, who retains his starting place today, chalk up his 100th goal for the Club.
That’s the spirit
Last Wednesday’s excellent 3-0 home victory over Forest saw City make a welcome return to winning ways after what had been a tough run of results.
It was a display the melded the champions’ superb quality alongside the spirit and togetherness that has helped underpin our remarkable record of success under Pep Guardiola.
And in previewing today’s latest encounter, the boss made a point of highlighting how crucial that harmony and collective mindset would be again.
“The schedule ahead of us, we have to handle it. It’s an incredible bruising and incredible challenge to do it,” Pep pointed out.
“We break that bad run because it’s not easy when you don’t win for a long time.
“And now we have to try and continue with the good spirit that we show. We will see what happens.”
Stats and facts
● Crystal Palace have won just two of their last 18 Premier League games against City (D4 L12), with both of those victories coming at the Etihad Stadium (December 2018 and October 2021).
● Since Pep Guardiola joined City in 2016, Crystal Palace have scored multiple goals against the Citizens in six different Premier League games – only Tottenham (9) have done so more in this time.
● Having won five of their seven Premier League home games under Oliver Glasner last season (D1 L1), Crystal Palace have won just one of their seven at Selhurst Park so far this season (D3 L3).
● City have lost our last five away games in all competitions, last losing six in a row back in February 1994. The last reigning top-flight champions to lose six away games in a row were City themselves during the 1968-69 campaign.
● City have lost our last three Premier League away games, conceding exactly twice each time. We last lost four in a row on the road in April 2015, while we last did so while conceding multiple goals each time in February 2004 (a run of five).
● Both of Crystal Palace’s Premier League wins this season have been by a 1-0 scoreline, with Jean-Philippe Mateta netting the winner each time. Indeed, the Frenchman has scored in eight of the Eagles’ nine league victories under Oliver Glasner.
● Erling Haaland has scored in all three of his Premier League games for City against Crystal Palace, with his first ever hat-trick in the competition coming against the Eagles in August 2022.
● Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta has scored in each of his last two Premier League appearances against City (two goals). No Palace player has ever scored in either three games in a row against City or in three in a row against the reigning Premier League champions.
● Kevin De Bruyne has been involved in four goals in his last four starts in the Premier League for City (2 goals, 2 assists), both scoring and assisting a goal against Nottingham Forest last time out. He’s also had a hand in 12 goals against Crystal Palace in the competition (4G 8A), only having more against Southampton (14).
