Manchester City will resume their participation in the Premier League today as they go up against Crystal Palace.
If the outcome and scoreline are in their favor, Pep Guardiola’s team has the chance to regain the top position in the table. City is presently trailing Liverpool by three points and Arsenal by one point in the standings.
City will face Palace with the knowledge that a victory would result in them reaching the same number of points as Liverpool. If City wins by a margin of five or more goals, they will surpass the Anfield club in terms of goal differential before the Reds’ match against Manchester United on Sunday.
Guardiola’s main objective will be for Manchester City to secure victory in the game and depart Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon with a full three points. The manager of the City team will have to proceed without several essential players owing to injuries.
Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake are currently unavailable due to injuries. Walker has been absent from City’s matches since sustaining a muscular ailment while representing England in international service.
Ake sustained an undisclosed injury during the scoreless draw at Arsenal last week. Now, both players are not able to participate in the upcoming match against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Fortunately, there is positive news about injuries, as John Stones and Ederson are expected to rejoin the team. Stones has been absent from City’s matches since he sustained an injury while on international duty with England.
Stones has been listed as a substitute for City’s most recent matches against Arsenal and Aston Villa. Nevertheless, the central defender has remained on the bench without being called upon, but there is a possibility that he may make his comeback in the upcoming match against Palace.
Ederson has been out from City’s lineup since March 10 when he sustained a leg injury during the match against Liverpool. Stefan Ortega has been acting as a substitute for the Brazilian player while he has been absent, and Guardiola has indicated that Ederson may be back in the starting line-up for the trip to South West London.
Due to the unavailability of Walker and Ake, it is likely that Manu Akanji and Josko Gvardiol will be chosen to play as full-backs for City. Stones may maybe resume his position as a center-back with Ruben Dias in the core of the defense.
In the midfield, Rodri is expected to occupy his customary position, potentially receiving assistance from Mateo Kovacic and Kevin De Bruyne. The latter was selected as a substitute for the victory against Villa but will be eager to regain their place in the starting lineup for the match against Palace.
Guardiola is likely to give debuts to Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden, who both contribute to fitness. Nevertheless, the City manager will be cautious of the next Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, which will take place just a few days later.
Erling Haaland was not included in the starting lineup versus Villa, as the striker was given a significant opportunity to recuperate before a demanding series of matches. Following his absence from the game earlier this week, Haaland is expected to be prepared and available for selection if he is included in the starting line-up for the match at Selhurst Park against City.
The anticipated Manchester City starting lineup against Crystal Palace is as follows: Ederson in goal; Akanji, Stones, Dias, and Gvardiol in defense; Rodri and Kovacic in midfield; De Bruyne in an attacking midfield role; Silva, Foden, and Haaland as the forwards.
