Crystal Palacevs.Man City

Rodri (ACL), Oscar Bobb (leg fracture), Mateo Kovacic (unspecified) and John Stones (foot) all remain sidelined with injuries and will be joined in the treatment room by Nathan Ake, who pulled his hamstring in the closing stages of Wednesday's 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

Manuel Akanji was withdrawn at half time against Forest with an unspecified issue he has 'struggled a lot' with over the last few months, according to Pep Guardiola, but a return on Saturday has not been ruled out just yet, while Phil Foden is a doubt after missing the midweek win due to bronchitis.

The potential absence of both Ake and Akanji could see Josko Gvardiol moved back into central defence to play alongside Ruben Dias, while 19-year-old Jahmai Simpson-Pusey could also be considered for a start at centre-back.

Kyle Walker is another who has experience of playing at centre-back, but the out-of-form Englishman is more likely to operate at right-back, while Rico Lewis could be tasked with starting at left-back. Stefan Ortega, meanwhile, may start in goal for the third successive game at the expense of Ederson.

Guardiola will weight up to stick with a midfield triumvirate of Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne - the latter scored and assisted against Forest on his first start since September 18 - or recall Matheus Nunes to the first XI.

Bernardo Silva could also play centrally if he not deployed out wide, and that would allow Savinho to be recalled on the right, while Jeremy Doku - who also scored an assisted in midweek - will hope to retain his spot on the left flank as Erling Haaland continues to lead the line.

Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ortega; Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis; De Bruyne, Gundogan, Grealish; Savinho, Haaland, Doku

Written by

Oliver Thomas