Early team news: Four confirmed starters for Manchester City against Crystal Palace

Four starters in Pep Guardiola’s eleven have been named ahead of Manchester City’s Premier League battle with Crystal Palace this weekend, as per sources.

The reigning champions take on the Eagles in their final outing in the English top-flight prior to embarking on their maiden FIFA Club World Cup campaign, with a showdown against Urawa Red Diamonds scheduled for next Tuesday.

Manchester City will make the journey to Saudi Arabia for the competition this weekend, but know that victory against Crystal Palace is absolutely necessary to maintain their chase of those above them in the Premier League table.

City come into the clash with Roy Hodgson’s side off the back of two successive victories, having beaten Luton Town and Crvena zvezda away from home in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League respectively.

City did so without the talents of Erling Haaland or Jeremy Doku, who are both expected to miss out on the action once again this weekend as they continue recovery from injury problems, while Kevin De Bruyne is eyeing a return in the new year.

Crystal Palace on the other hand are in the midst of a serious injury crisis, with up to nine first-team players potentially ruled out for the visitors at the Etihad Stadium this weekend due to varying problems.

Ahead of the confirmed line-ups from the Etihad Stadium this weekend, sources on social media have began releasing information around Pep Guardiola’s selection, with the first details offered by X user Jake Gorfin.

As part of Pep Guardiola’s attacking set-up on Saturday afternoon, it has been reported that both Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez will start for Manchester City, presumably in the trio that will lead the line for the champions.

Despite rumours of a minor knock picked up in training in the build-up to this weekend’s game, Gorfin also reports that Kyle Walker will start for Manchester City, whilst Rico Lewis has also worked his way into Guardiola’s plans, potentially in an attacking midfield role.

As per X user FplToni, Jack Grealish is part of the Manchester City starting line-up with the England international expected to start in his usual left-sided berth of the attack, while Jake Gorfin further details that Bernardo Silva also starts for the Champions.

It has also been confirmed that Erling Haaland is not a part of the Manchester City matchday squad at the Etihad Stadium against Crystal Palace, as per Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News.

Pep Guardiola and Roy Hodgson are expected to confirm their respective starting line-ups from 14:00 (UK) on Saturday afternoon.

Now confirmed.