Manchester City travel to South-London hoping to secure successive away victories for the first time since September.
Pep Guardiola must regather his players following the international break but to secure three points, he must ensure he selects a suitable team capable of overcoming an out of form Palace team.
City commenced the international break in disappointing fashion after dropping two points in the last minute to Middlesbrough. Guardiola can be disappointed with his side for their poor finishing, but their critics can not fault their control of the game.
Against Palace, Guardiola faces a team lacking in confidence having suffered three successive defeats before the break, losing in the last minute to Burnley.
Indeed, the task in-store remains a difficult challenge for Pep and his team, as Pardew will be keen to record a significant victory over his Spanish counterpart.
After much discussion, this is the necessary starting XI Guardiola must pick to ensure success at Selhurst Park…
GK: Claudio Bravo
Bravo arrived in England facing the unenviable task of replacing an English player. With that, criticism fell upon the shoulders of the Chile international, but he has overcome any doubters in recent weeks following a slow start.
Against Palace, he will be pressed high by the opposition forwards keen to force him into a mistake. However, given space on the ball, Bravo may prove a pivotal point of City’s attacking nature in south London.
CB: John Stones
New-signing Stones has slotted into Guardiola’s team like a duck to water. Much criticism fell upon the England defender following his big-money move, but he continues to prove any doubters wrong.
Stones is the ideal Guardiola player and his ability on the ball will be decisive for City against this out-of-form Palace team trying to play between the lines.
Palace are expected to press high so Stones must ensure his game is faultless in terms of passing.
CB: Vincent Kompany
To say City are cautious over the return of Kompany would be an enormous understatement. The defender’s injury record borders embarrassing and City are likely to give their captain a first-team chance this weekend.
Otamendi is liable to be dropped following his matches for Argentina during the break while Kompany didn’t feature for Belgium.
Kompany will come up against compatriot Benteke faced with the battle of stopping the forward scoring against the Blues.
CB: Aleksandar Kolarov
It’s pretty remarkable Kolarov is still at Manchester City as the left-back was expected to depart the club following Guardiola’s arrival.
Instead, the Serbian has been nothing short of impressive as he continues to feature weekly for the Spaniard. Kolarov is likely to face tricky opposition in Palace with their pacey wingers the type of play Kolarov fears playing against in the Eagles.
If Kolarov isn’t on top of his game, this could be a brutal performance to behold for the Etihad faithful.
DM: Fernandinho
Faultless is possibly the only word to describe Fernandinho’s season. The Brazil international is the only player to start every Premier League game for Guardiola thus far in 16/17, and his presence at Palace may be critical for the Citizen’s chance of achieving a victory.
Fernandinho has become the engine of City’s success, and he must ensure McArthur and Ledley do not overrun him in midfield for the battle for domination.
CM: Ilkay Gundogan
If there were an award for the bargain of the summer, Gundogan’s name would be at the forefront of the list. His impact on this side cannot be critiqued in any way.
Gundogan’s flexibility has proven a major success story, and at Selhurst Park, Guardiola will need his new German signing to produce yet another world-class performance.
Goals and assists have already been an improvement witnessed by everyone and one on Saturday would be widely welcomed.
CM: Kevin De Bruyne
If his performance against Barcelona weren’t already proof enough, then nothing would convince Guardiola to keep De Bruyne centrally.
The Belgian’s impact through the middle is far superior to that when played in a wider role. With a fully-fit squad to choose from, Guardiola must decide whether to play his talisman in midfield.
De Bruyne is going to be identified as City’s star man and may find himself man-marked out of the game. Well, Palace can try at least.
CM: David Silva
Like a fine wine, David Silva seems to get better with age. Merlin, as he is nicknamed by the City faithful, his performances in recent weeks, cannot be faulted as he continues to be the master at unlocking stern opposition defences.
Silva showed last January when the club’s met that he can be unplayable at times and if he his granted the freedom to hurt Palace, City could run riot at Selhurst Park.
RW: Raheem Sterling
Remember when Liverpool fans considered Jordan Ibe a better prospect following Sterling’s move to City? Well, he has defied any doubters of his ability this campaign being City’s best attacking player on a weekly basis.
Palace’s slow full-backs may need to ponder a question or two regarding stopping Sterling from damaging them in front of goal like has successfully done all campaign.
If Sterling his on his A game, then Palace could be in for a long match.
LW: Nolito
Remove his silly head-butting and Nolito’s contribution to City’s success can only be admired supporters. The Spanish international has watched on from the bench following his red card against Bournemouth in September but Guardiola should finally re-install his compatriot.
Crucial goals from the Spaniard have elevated City to title contenders and Palace may prove the perfect opposition for him to expand on his impressive goal-scoring streak.
It’s a no-brainer Pep!
ST: Sergio Aguero
Believe it or not, there was once a time this season when Sergio Aguero was considered unhappy and out of form. Despite this, the Argentine has still clocked up 14 goals in just 17 games already this season.
Aguero’s record against Palace means he will go to Selhurst Park full of confidence.
The Argentine has scored three goals in his last two Premier League games and starting him shouldn’t even be a doubt if the forward is fit.
