Guardiola hopeful that striker will be available for Club World Cup
Manchester City vs Crystal Palace
Competition: F.A. Premier League
Date: 3.00pm, Saturday 16th December 2023
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Paul Tierney Assistants: R West, S Ledger Fourth Official: D England VAR: S Atwell
Odds: City 1/4, Draw 5/1, Spurs 9/1
Tickets: Sold out
TV: Sky Sports
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Ederson, Ortega, Carson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake, Gvardiol, Akanji, Lewis, Phillips, Kovacic, Grealish, Rodri, Silva, Gomez, Nunes, Foden, Bobb, Hamilton, Haaland, Alvarez
Injured: De Bruyne, Doku
Doubtful: Haaland, Grealish
Suspended: None
Form guide: WWLDW
Crystal Palace
Manager: Roy Hodgson
Squad (from): Henderson, Matthews, Whitworrth, Ward, Mitchell, Tomkins, Guehi, Andersen, Clyne, Richards, Ferguson, Olise, Lerma, Eze, Schlupp, Hughes, Ahamada, Riedewald, Franca, Mateta, Ebiowei
Injured: Doucoure, Rak-Sakyi, Holding, Johnstone, Edouard
Doubtful: Henderson, Eze, Mitchell, Lerma
Suspended: Ayew
Form guide: LLDLL
Erling Haaland is unlikely to be available for the visit of Crystal Palace, whilst Jeremy Doku also misses out.
The Norwegian striker has missed the last two games against Luton and Red Star Belgrade, but manager Pep Guardiola is hopeful that he will be available for the Club World Cup.
“[He] arrived today and the doctors will see him and we will see how he feels.” he said at Friday's press conference.
“He has been for treatment away. Hopefully he can travel to Saudi tomorrow after the game.
“I think he is going to travel with us and after that we will see if he is able to play the first game or the second or when we come back.
“Sometimes players recover quicker or longer. The doctors say we have to take it day by day, week by week on how he feels.
“At the moment he doesn’t have symptoms or doesn’t feel pain, he will be available to play again.”
City won their last game against Palace at the Etihad 4-2, with goals from Bernardo Silva and an Erling Haaland hat-trick. Overall City have won 37 of the 69 games played against the Eagles, with 15 draws and 17 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake, Rodri, Kovacic, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Alvarez
Score prediction: City 3 Palace 1