Manchester City star absent from matchday squad against Crystal Palace | OneFootball

Jeremy Doku is missing from Manchester City’s 20-man matchday squad to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon.

The 23-year-old has been in excellent form for the Blues this season and has made the left-win position his own with a fine run of performances in recent months, notably in crucial home wins over Manchester City, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund.

Doku, who joined City in 2023 from Rennes, also starred for City in their monumental UEFA Champions League comeback win over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in midweek as goals from Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland secured a 2-1 triumph for Pep Guardiola’s side at the home of their bitter European rivals.

Manchester City can cut the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal to two points with a win at Selhurst Park after the Gunners left it late to win over Wolves at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Blues have won each of their last three Premier League games and after securing their biggest result of 2025 on Wednesday, momentum is on Manchester City’s side as they face a tricky test against Oliver Glasner’s capable side in south London.

Ahead of the 14:00 UK kick-off at Selhurst Park, it has been confirmed that Jeremy Doku is missing from Manchester City’s squad to face the Eagles, with Tijjani Reijnders coming in for the Belgium international as the only change in the starting XI from Madrid.

Gianluigi Donnarumma lines up in goal for the Blues in London this afternoon, with Guardiola fielding his preferred backline of Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Nico O’Reilly. Nico Gonzalez and Bernardo Silva form the two-man midfield.

Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland have been a formidable front three for Manchester City in recent months, with Reijnders benefitting from Doku’s absence as he receives a golden opportunity to impress Guardiola ahead of a busy festive schedule.

Speaking to reporters ahead of kick-off on Sunday afternoon, Guardiola confirmed that Doku has sustained a leg injury and is therefore missing from Manchester City’s 20-man matchday squad, as relayed by Simon Bajkoswki of the Manchester Evening News.

“We will miss his quality but we have another – other players play with their own quality. During the season we have setbacks with injuries,” the Manchester City manager said on Doku’s absence.

Guardiola is expected to issue a detailed verdict on the extent of Doku’s injury and how long the winger could be out for in the aftermath of Sunday’s game, wherein nothing less than three points will do for the Blues.

With Omar Marmoush heading for the Africa Cup of Nations soon, Guardiola and his coaching staff have been handed a personnel dilemma at the left side of attack amid a dearth of direct, out-and-out replacements for Doku.

Moreover, Doku has been instrumental in Manchester City’s resurgence as title contenders after their sluggish start to the 2025-26 campaign in August – and the Blues will be hoping for a swift recovery for their star winger.