Manchester City: Palace next up as Roy’s woes mount

Coming off an overall good third round Carabao Cup midweek fixture, Manchester City now change focus back to the Premier League.

Ilkay Gundogan’s injury was the only smear on an otherwise decent night at the Hawthorns. It seems now the German will be back in days, rather than months after being diagnosed with a strain, rather than something more serious. It will be good news for Ilkay, who had only just returned from an injury long lay off.

Pep will be looking for a repeat of May’s visit of the Eagles to the Etihad. City ran out 5-0 winners in that fixture with five different names on the score-sheet. For Palace, they will not want to become only the second Premier League side to lose all of their first six games.

Portsmouth did it back in the 2009/10 season. That year it wasn’t until the eighth game of the season when the first points were recorded. They finished the season bottom, gaining just twenty-eight points from the 38 games.

On a personal level it would be nice to see Sergio Aguero match, or possibly beat, the all time leading goalscorer record for City. A record which has stood since before the Second World War, held by Eric Brook.

More from Man City Square

Palace will probably set up with two rows of four. Hodgson will hope Benteke can hold up any long balls for reinforcements to get themselves upfield. They are not expected to get anything from the game and so, possibly, they could be playing with the reigns off.

For City, unless they can get a quick goal, it could be difficult to break the opposition down. Pep will almost certainly rotate players back into the starting eleven who missed out midweek. Did Leroy Sane do enough to force his name into Pep’s mind? Will Gundogan find a spot on the bench for a few minutes run out?

For me, I think Pep will chose Ederson in goal over Bravo. If Kompany is fit maybe Pep will give Stones a rest and start the Belgium instead. Otamendi and Danilo either side of him with Fernandinho in front. Of course Walker and Mendy down the sides with Aguero and Jesus up front.

Next: Do City need Kompany?

Can you look any further than DeBruyne and David Silva pulling the strings in the middle of the park? That would leave Bernardo, Sane and Raheem on the bench. That said, Pep like to spring surprises, just when opposition managers think they have him sussed. Maybe, just maybe, if that’s how we expect him to line up, will he change to just two at the back, one up front to accomodate Bernardo and Sane?