Phil Foden and Jack Grealish hold down starting berths – Predicted XI: Crystal Palace vs Manchester City (Premier League)

Manchester City will be hoping to once again put the pressure on league leaders Arsenal this weekend, as they take on Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola and his players will be hoping to build on their victory over Newcastle United last weekend, when two goals from Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva proved to be enough to put Eddie Howe’s men aside at the Etihad Stadium.

That victory ensured that the reigning Premier League champions remained within touching distance of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who secured three points themselves albeit in much more dramatic circumstances.

A last-minute winner from Reiss Nelson prevented Arsenal from being on the receiving end of a disappointing result at the Emirates Stadium, with Bournemouth leading the contest by a 0-2 scoreline at one stage in the game.

As for Manchester City’s opponents this weekend, the Eagles remain the only side in the Premier League to have not recorded a single victory in the new calendar year, with their last win coming on December 31.

Ahead of the upcoming Premier League tie against Patrick Vieira’s side, here is how we predict Pep Guardiola will set up his Manchester City squad at Selhurst Park on Saturday evening.

Predicted XI

Ederson will start in goal for Manchester City this weekend.

While many could jump to conclusions should this happen at Selhurst Park, we expect Rico Lewis to come back into the starting line-up for footballing reasons only. With that being said, it would not be at all surprising to see Kyle Walker retain his place from last weekend.

In central defence, and while either of the two fantastic options on the bench could start, we expect Pep Guardiola to stick with the pairing of Manuel Akanji and Ruben Dias for this one.

Nathan Ake is highly likely to start at left-back, unless the City boss fancies a change from the last few games and begins this one with Aymeric Laporte or Bernardo Silva.

Rodri will start in Manchester City’s lone defensive midfield role.

Ahead of him is where things usually get more complex, and while Kevin De Bruyne could very well retain his place in the squad from last weekend despite an underwhelming showing, we predict Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan will start this one.

Manchester City’s attacking line is always subject to possible change with the exception of the striker position, however we believe that the trip to Selhurst Park will not be one of those occasions.

As such, we believe Phil Foden will continue at right-wing for this one, despite aggravating a reoccurring foot problem during the win over Newcastle United last weekend.

Erling Haaland will start at striker.

Over in the wide-left role, Manchester City’s Player of the Month for February is likely to hold down that position once again as Jack Grealish looks to add more goals and assists to his impressive post-World Cup tally.

Starting XI: Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Ake; Rodri, Gundogan, Bernardo; Foden, Haaland, Grealish.

Substitutes: Ortega, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Phillips, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Alvarez, Palmer.