Manchester City travel to Crystal Palace in the Premier League tonight with the chance to go top of the table and make it two wins from two to kick off the season.
Opening day contrast
Enzo Maresca’s side completed a late turnaround to beat Bournemouth at the Etihad on the opening day, while Palace slumped to defeat at Everton.
But the Eagles are a tough nut to crack on home soil and will pose questions of City, who are still a work in progress under Maresca as they undergo a summer rebuild with more new faces expected between now and Tuesday’s deadline.
Defensive reshuffle expected
The Blues boss has selection issues to ponder ahead of the game with City clunky in their season opener. In goal Gianluigi Donnarumma will continue, but there could be changes at the back.
City were suspect defensively against Bournemouth and the experiment of Marc Guehi could be ended with the England international restored to the middle of defence to try and bring some solidity to the backline. Ruben Dias is likely to partner Guehi and Nico O'Reilly could revert to left back after his attacking midfield role last time out, with matchwinner Josko Gvardiol the unlucky man to miss out.
Rico Lewis wants to play in midfield and struggled defensively at times against Bournemouth. Matheus Nunes may have to settle for a spot on the bench with Maresca describing the Portugal international as 'not 100 per cent,' so it could be that Abdukodir Khusanov gets the nod at right back.
Midfield and attack changes
Elliot Anderson is fit to start in midfield and Mateo Kovacic could come in alongside the record signing after being among the subs last weekend. Rayan Cherki came off the bench to inspire the City turnaround and should be rewarded with a start in the number 10 role.
That would leave Phil Foden out wide again in Jeremy Doku's absence, with Antoine Semenyo on the other side and Erling Haaland through the middle.
City predicted XI: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Guehi, O'Reilly; Anderson, Kovacic, Cherki; Foden, Haaland, Semenyo
