Predicted Starting Line-Up: Crystal Palace vs Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City set their sights back on Premier League action on Sunday afternoon, as they travel to face high-flying Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

City arrive in London buoyed by a statement performance in midweek as Pep Guardiola’s side stood toe-to-toe with continental giants, and familiar rivals, Real Madrid. Goals from Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland overturned Rodrygo’s opener – his first strike in 1,415 minutes.

The victory sees City end week six of the Champions League in the top-four, making their path to the knock-out phase a lot easier than it might have otherwise appeared after defeat to Bayer Leverkusen. It also further adds to growing momentum of a team that looks more confident with every passing week. 

Next up is a Crystal Palace side performing well above expectations. Oliver Glasner’s men currently sit fourth in the Premier League table – just four points off the top three – and have lost only one of their last five league fixtures.

Such form leaves Manchester City with little margin for rotation, particularly with last season’s FA Cup final serving as a cautionary tale. Fatigue was evident for several players against Real Madrid, but any rest this weekend may need to come through substitutions rather than wholesale changes to a team currently in strong rhythm.

Here’s how we think Manchester City will line up to face Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon!

Predicted XI

In goal, Gianluigi Donnarumma is likely to get the nod. The Italian continues to impress week in week out, having kept five clean sheets in his 12 Premier League appearances so far. It would take nothing short of a monumental effort to displace him on current form. 

After another sublime performance on Wednesday night at the Bernabeu in Madrid, converted midfielder Matheus Nunes is almost certainly set to start on Sunday afternoon in his new-found right-back role. 

Nobody made more tackles against Real Madrid than the Portuguese international, and only Nico Gonzalez (57) completed more passes than Nunes (55). With more touches than anyone else in midweek (99), it is clear to see just how integral the former Wolves man has become.

With John Stones injured and Abdukodir Khusanov struggling for playing time, a formidable pairing of Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol seems to be the way forward. The duo look more comfortable together every week with yet another incredible showing against Real Madrid.

Nico O’Reilly’s first European goal and crucial equaliser will almost certainly cement his place in the starting line-up once again. While Rayan Ait-Nouri has played well, the 20-year-old England international has been nothing short of incredible and looks undroppable. 

With Rodri set to miss out once more, Nico Gonzalez has made the holding midfield position his own. Even with the aforementioned Ballon d’Or winner set to return soon, he will have a fight on his hands to get back into the starting line-up ahead of the January 2025 recruit. 

Nobody completed more passes than 23-year-old Nico, who effectively acted as a metronome for everything Manchester City did at the Bernabeu – familiar opposition for a player who rose through the FC Barcelona ranks. 

Phil Foden was withdrawn on the 70th minute against Real Madrid, a much-needed rest for the midfield star and a sign that he is very much in Pep Guardiola’s plans ahead of this weekend’s fixture.

He could be paired with the man who replaced him in that match, Tijjani Reijnders. Leaving Bernardo Silva out is a tough call, but after 90 minutes on Wednesday night and an ever so slightly weary looking performance, it might be a good idea to give the captain some rest.

Rayan Cherki showcased his talents on the biggest stage against Real Madrid, making that summer transfer fee look even more like the bargain of the season.

It is always hard to say what Guardiola might go with on the wing, especially with Savinho’s impressive performance off the bench on Wednesday. The 70th minute substitution of Cherki does give the impression that he will be heavily involved once more this weekend, though. 

Erling Haaland’s position in the starting line-up remains all but guaranteed as long as the Norwegian international is fit to play. With yet another Champions League goal to his name, the superstar striker is in the form of his life. 

The left-wing is the most difficult position to predict this week. Pep Guardiola gave Omar Marmoush plenty of credit for his performance against Real Madrid, saying the Egyptian attacker “helped us a lot when he came on”. 

With his departure for the African Cup of Nations imminent and with Jeremy Doku in need of a much deserved rest, this Sunday feels like a perfect opportunity to get Marmoush back into the starting line-up. 

Starting XI: Donnrumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Nico, Foden, Reijnders; Cherki, Haaland, Marmoush.

Substitutes: Trafford, Lewis, Khusanov, Ake, Ait-Nouri, Bernardo, Savinho, Doku, Bobb.