Crystal Palace vs Manchester City: Team News and Lineups
Selhurst Park under the lights, Manchester City in town, and Crystal Palace trying to crack a home hoodoo that has dragged on for nearly a decade. The Premier League narrative writes itself.
Palace opened their campaign with a flat defeat at Everton. City, under new boss Enzo Maresca, needed two late goals to squeeze past Bournemouth, but the champions-in-waiting narrative is already circling as they chase back the title.
Palace haven’t beaten City at Selhurst Park in the league since 2015. That’s a long time to wait. Their one recent moment of glory over the Manchester giants came at Wembley last season, when they stunned them to lift the FA Cup – the club’s first major trophy. Tonight, they try to drag some of that Wembley defiance back to south London.
Crystal Palace: Sarr Out, Disasi Arrives
Pierre Sage goes into this one with two confirmed absentees: Ismaila Sarr and Chadi Riad both miss out.
Sarr’s situation has been watched closely, not least because of Liverpool’s interest in the winger. Sage cut through the transfer noise in his pre-match briefing and pinned the absence on a groin problem.
“Ismaila Sarr is in individual sessions; he is in pain with his groin, and that’s why he didn’t train with us today,” Sage explained.
New signing Axel Disasi, on loan from Chelsea, is available and goes straight into the matchday squad. Sage made no attempt to hide his enthusiasm for the defender’s impact on day one.
“He is ready, he had his first session with us today and gives us confidence with his experience. That’s why he’s a good addition for us.”
So Palace go with a blend of fresh faces and familiar names as they look to disrupt City’s rhythm.
Crystal Palace confirmed XI
- Henderson; Khalaili, Richards, Tomiyasu, Canvot, Mitchell; Wharton, Kamada; Nketiah, Pino, Strand Larsen
Substitutes
- Benitez, Mingueza, Munoz, Disasi, Lerma, Hughes, Gozo, Guessand
Manchester City: Doku Out, Bouaddi Waiting in the Wings
On the opposite bench, Enzo Maresca has his own selection issues. Jeremy Doku does not travel, while Matheus Nunes is touch-and-go for the Friday night clash.
“Jeremy is out, Matheus we will see; he is still not 100%,” Maresca said, laying out the situation plainly.
All eyes, though, drift quickly to Ayyoub Bouaddi. The teenager, signed for £86m from Lille, is in line for his debut. The fee screams expectation; Maresca’s words urge patience.
“He doesn’t look 18, he looks older, which is important, but in this case we need to go slowly because he is young and came from another country,” the City manager stressed.
For now, Bouaddi starts on the bench, watching a heavyweight City lineup try to quiet a notoriously restless Selhurst crowd.
Manchester City confirmed XI
- Donnarumma; Dias, Khushanov, Gvardiol, Guehi; Anderson, O’Reilly, Cherki; Foden, Semenyo, Haaland
Substitutes
- Rulli, Lewis, Kovacic, Ait-Nouri, Reis, Echeverri, Bouaddi, Mcaidoo, Braithwaite
Palace bring noise, City bring power, and both managers bring new ideas. One chasing history at home, the other chasing the title. Which story takes hold under the Selhurst lights tonight?
