After securing a midweek Champions League victory in Belgrade, Manchester Metropolis returns to Premier League motion on the Etihad Stadium in opposition to Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.
Sitting fourth within the Premier League standings, Manchester Metropolis faces a Crystal Palace facet positioned fifteenth and grappling with a poor run of kind.
Match Preview
Manchester Metropolis broke their four-game winless run within the Premier League with a 2-1 win in opposition to Luton City final weekend.
Moreover, they maintained an ideal document on this season’s Champions League with a 3-2 win in opposition to Red Star Belgrade, fielding a much-changed lineup the place academy graduates Micah Hamilton and Oscar Bobb scored their first senior targets for the membership.
Nonetheless, within the Premier League, their current performances have allowed Liverpool, Arsenal, and Aston Villa to surpass them within the desk.
Guardiola’s facet goals to regain momentum as they return to the Etihad Stadium, the place they’ve been unbeaten of their final 18 league video games.
Crystal Palace, after main in opposition to Liverpool till the ultimate minutes, succumbed to a 2-1 defeat because of a late turnaround. They’ve struggled to seek out kind, choosing up simply 5 factors of their final 45 obtainable.
Regardless of their current struggles, Palace has a historical past of inflicting upsets, having defeated Manchester Metropolis twice at their residence floor since Guardiola’s arrival in 2016.
Crew Information
Manchester Metropolis’s Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku face uncertainties because of accidents and are more likely to return after the weekend.
Kevin De Bruyne stays sidelined with a hamstring drawback.
Guardiola is anticipated to convey again a number of common starters, together with Ederson, Walker, Dias, and Ake in protection, together with Rodri and Kovacic in midfield. Grealish and Foden ought to return within the attacking third.
Crystal Palace faces damage points with a number of gamers like Sam Johnstone, Jefferson Lerma, and Odsonne Edouard choosing up injuries against Liverpool.
Jordan Ayew is suspended, and Tyrick Mitchell is uncertain because of a hip damage. Nathaniel Clyne may proceed at left-back, and Mateta could lead on the road in Edouard’s absence.
Predicted Lineups
Manchester Metropolis: (4-2-3-1)
Ederson;
Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake;
Kovacic, Rodri;
Foden, Bernardo, Grealish;
Alvarez
Crystal Palace: (4-3-3)
Matthews;
Ward, Guehi, Andersen, Clyne;
Richards, Ahamada, Hughes;
Olise, Mateta, Schlupp
Prediction: Manchester Metropolis 2-0 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace has troubled Manchester Metropolis earlier than however contemplating their present kind and damage issues, it appears unlikely for them to stage one other upset.
Manchester Metropolis may not be at full energy, however they possess high quality of their squad to safe a snug win at residence.
