Crystal Palace preview.

Busy with work and a little ill; I’ll get straight to it…

v Crystal Palace

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 9/11).

Fluid 3-5-2 / 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:

____________________Jesus_____________________

__Sterling_____________________________B. Silva__

___________De Bruyne_______D. Silva_____________

_____________________Rodri_____________________

Mendy__________________________________Cancelo

_________Fernandinho_______Stones______________

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Bravo, Walker, Otamendi, Gundogan, Foden, Mahrez, Aguero.

Just a little shuffle from our last outing, I think, and with another game coming up just 3 days after tomorrow’s match.

Ederson retains the gloves.

Mendy to keep his place in the left-wing back slot and likewise Joao, as I can see our manager wanting to save Kyle for our up & coming midweek encounter. Both Fernandinho & John to start in-between those too (basically, same back-4), as I can see-also Nicolas stepping in on Tuesday night.

Rodders, also, to ‘sit in’ deep in midfield and just 2 changes, I think, to the attacking quartet ahead of him, with Raheem & Bernardo stepping in to join Kevin & David.

Jesus, I recon, might get ‘the nod’ up front for this game.

Claudio the reserve stopper; Kyle & Nicolas the defensive replacement choices from the side. Ilkay, Phil, Riyad & Sergio are the midfield / wing / striker options form ‘the 7’.

Notable absences:

-       Aymeric Laporte – Continues to train with the first team and waiting for the ‘thumbs up’ form the medical staff. Possibly another week?

-       Angelino – Not selected.

-       Oleksandr Zinchenko – Not selected.

-       Leroy Sane – Continues to train on his own and the hope from club officials, and most City fans I'm sure, is for him to be available early February.

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

Sure do.

Result? It’s been well documented that our visitors, tomorrow, have had some success against us in recent seasons; not least on our own patch. In fact, it’s left some Blues I know officially calling them one of our ‘bogey teams’. Fair enough.

But with the form we’re in and the confidence we’re displaying at the moment; any threat from The Eagles – and there might well be some – will, in my opinion, be overwhelmed by our own attacking play and general control of the game. It’s a home win for me.

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: Win

Result: Lost

(Didn’t do a pre-match blog posting for that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: After some ‘orrible, wet & windy days in Manchester this week, it’s a truly lovely day for football! 7C, DRY and sunny for the match; with just a light, westerly breeze. Warm coat and shades day.