Pep Guardiola is set to shuffle his pack for tonight’s visit of Crystal Palace, despite the Premier League title race hanging by a thread.
City are five points behind Arsenal with three games to play. The Gunners have just two left. Mathematically, it’s still alive. But Guardiola has one eye on Wembley (FA Cup final on Saturday) and another on a tricky trip to Bournemouth next Tuesday.
Rotation is coming. Whether fans like it or not.
Donnarumma stays, Trafford waits for cup final
In goal, Gianluigi Donnarumma keeps his place. James Trafford is being saved for the cup final against Chelsea at the weekend. That’s been the pattern and Guardiola isn’t breaking it now.
Defensive reshuffle
At full back, Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly look poised to keep their spots. Both have done enough in recent weeks to stay in the XI.
Centre half is where it gets interesting.
Abdukodir Khusanov missed the Brentford win and is unlikely to be risked. Ruben Dias returned to the squad on Saturday but may be held back for the cup final.
Nathan Ake impressed at the weekend but doesn’t often play twice in quick succession. So John Stones could come in.
Alongside him? Marc Guehi facing his former club for the first time since leaving Selhurst Park in January. That’s a storyline waiting to happen.
Midfield: Rodri still not ready
Rodri is “better” according to Guardiola, but a start would be a major surprise. The cup final and Bournemouth are the priorities.
No one has really grabbed their opportunity in midfield in recent weeks. But Tijjani Reijnders might get another chance after starting against Brentford.
Captain Bernardo Silva is inked in. No debate there.
Attack: Marmoush in, Cherki out
Jeremy Doku is one of the form players in Europe right now. He starts on the left. Simple.
On the right? Guardiola hinted this week that Omar Marmoush could be in line for a start after scoring off the bench against Brentford. He replaces Rayan Cherki in the XI.
Erling Haaland leads the line. Obviously.
Antoine Semenyo gets the nod on the right side of attack, with Phil Foden bright in his weekend cameo, hoping for minutes off the bench.
Predicted City XI (4-3-3)
Donnarumma;
Nunes, Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly;
Silva (c), Reijnders;
Marmoush, Semenyo, Doku;
Haaland
The risk
Guardiola is gambling. Palace are no pushovers. Drop points here, and Arsenal can start polishing the trophy.
But the manager has been here before. He knows the schedule. He trusts his squad.
Now they have to deliver. Simple as that.
