Manchester City take on Crystal Palace at the Etihad on Wednesday night as they bid to keep their Premier League title hopes alive
Omar Marmoush of Manchester City celebrates his goal to make it 3-0 during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Brentford
Omar Marmoush scored for Manchester City against Brentford
View Image
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is set to make a few changes for the visit of Crystal Palace tonight despite the Premier League title race being on the line.
The Blues are five points behind Arsenal and have three games to play compared to the Gunners' two. City cannot afford to drop points against the Eagles but they also have to weigh up the schedule which takes them to Wembley for an FA Cup final on Saturday before a tricky-looking trip to Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Guardiola saw his side beat Brentford 3-0 last time out and while wholesale changes are unlikely, there will be alterations to the team which beat the Bees.
Gianluigi Donnarumma will continue in goal, with James Trafford expected to play in the cup final, while Matheus Nunes and Nico O'Reilly look poised to keep their places at full back. In the middle of defence, Abdukodir Khusanov missed the win over Brentford and is unlikely to be risked while Ruben Dias, who returned to the squad on Saturday, may be given a start in the cup final over the Palace contest.
Nathan Ake impressed at the weekend but doesn't often play twice in quick succession so John Stones could come into the team alongside Marc Guehi, who will be facing his former club for the first time since leaving Selhurst Park in January.
In midfield, Rodri is 'better' according to Guardiola but it would be a surprise to see him start with a cup final and Bournemouth on the horizon.
No-one has grabbed their opportunity in the middle of the park in recent weeks but Tijjani Reijnders might be offered another opportunity having started against the Bees.
Captain Bernardo Silva is inked in while Jeremy Doku is one of the form players in Europe right now and will surely start on the left. Guardiola hinted at handing Omar Marmoush an opportunity after the Egyptian scored off the bench against Keith Andrews' side and he could replace Rayan Cherki in the XI.
Erling Haaland will lead the line and Antoine Semenyo again gets the nod, although Phil Foden will be hoping for a league start after a bright weekend cameo.
Predicted City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly: Silva, Reijnders; Marmoush, Semenyo, Doku, Haaland