Team News

Manchester City

• Both Leroy Sane and Aymeric Laporte are nearing a return to full fitness and should be back in action early next month, with the treatment room now vacant.
• Following the 6-1 annihilation of Aston Villa last weekend Pep Guardiola must be tempted to field both Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus from the start once more.
• However, both Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva will be itching to return, so one or the other will likely lose their place, along with David Silva from the midfield.

Crystal Palace

• Without as many as nine first team players, Roy Hodgson has been working wonders with this Palace squad and has little choice but to field a very similar lineup to that which earned a point against Arsenal last weekend.
• Max Meyer was forced off through injury, however, following a poor tackle by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the German is unlikely to recover for the trip to the Etihad.
• We could see a first start for loan signing Cenk Tosun in turn, with Jordan Ayew forced into a wide role on the right.

Prediction

• Pep Guardiola is enjoying a decent spell with regards to injuries of late and with both Laporte and Sane soon to return, the Spaniard will be confident of a strong end to the season.
• By comparison, Palace are down to the bare bones and it will take an almighty effort to earn what would be back-to-back victories at the Etihad.
• The visitors will defend manfully, that’s for sure, so City won’t have it as easy as last weekend but if they play anywhere near the level they did in the first half at Villa Park the hosts should win comfortably.