Manchester City will want to put the nightmare result from their last Premier League fixture to bed where they lost 0-2 at home to Wolves. The reigning Premier League champions face off against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday and anything other than a win might spell doom for their title defence.
City will be buoyed by the return of a few of their star players from injury, to strengthen their backline, which has looked weak lately.
PREDICTED MANCHESTER CITY LINEUP vs CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
Ederson will be in goal against Crystal Palace and will hope to keep a clean sheet, something which has come at a premium for City lately.
Defence
John Stones is back in training, which will be a relief for Guardiola. But we feel he might hand the partnership of Fernandinho and Otamendi one more chance to prove themselves and delay making the change.
Fernandinho has had to play in defence following injuries to Stones and Aymeric Laporte and he could continue at the back for the game against Crystal Palace.
At right-back, we could see João Cancelo take Kyle Walker’s berth, moving from the left-back position that he played last time around. Oleksandr Zinchenko could return to the Manchester City lineup in the left-back slot.
Midfield
Another big return for manager Pep Guardiola is that of ace midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who has also returned to training. The Belgian could return to his midfield position, playing alongside Spaniard Rodri in the middle of the park.
Ilkay Gündogan scored a brace in Germany’s 3-0 win against Estonia, and he could retain his place in the Manchester City lineup keeping out David Silva.
Attack
Riyad Mahrez has possibly been City’s best attacker this season, and despite putting in an average performance against Wolves, he will most likely retain his place on the right side at the cost of Bernardo Silva.
Raheem Sterling scored a brace in England’s 6-0 win over Bulgaria, and he will most certainly start on the left in the Manchester City lineup.
Sergio Aguero should start after getting ample rest over the international break; Gabriel Jesus played in both of Brazil’s friendlies in Singapore and he could be on the bench for City.
MANCHESTER CITY LINEUP
