Joao Cancelo makes Liverpool title vow

Joao Cancelo says City will keep chasing Liverpool in the title race.

He said before the game: “We are in good shape, winning a few games in a row, and we are also playing well.

“We’ve deserved the wins, especially the last one against Aston Villa. We played really well.

“We have to keep focused, winning games and chasing Liverpool. It will be difficult to chase them but we have to keep going and see where it takes us come the end of the season.”

He gave a verdict on his recent playing time too.

“I’ve been playing regularly and I feel fine.

“With the help of my manager and teammates, it’s been much better.

“The most important thing is the team.

“We have to keep going as a team and if I can play more, the better.

“I had the chance to play the game at Crystal Palace. We know the are a very difficult team – they have good attackers and midfielders, and are defensively solid.

“It will be a difficult challenge for us but as I said, the team is in good shape and we’ll keep focused on winning.”

Watch: Man City squad arrive at the Etihad

Joao Cancelo’s versatility has paid off today

Joao Cancelo is the player doing pre-match interview duties and his versatility looks to have paid off today.

Benjamin Mendy is the only recognised left-back in the squad but Cancelo can play there if Guardiola needs a different option from the Frenchman.

Man City squad vs Crystal Palace

Man City squad to face Crystal Palace: Ederson, Bravo, Carson, Walker, Cancelo, Stones, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Mendy, Rodri, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Foden, Bernardo, Silva, Mahrez, Sterling, Jesus, Aguero.

Team news in 20 minutes…

Who will start up front?

Who will partner Fernandinho in defence?

We’ll find out in 20 minutes…

City can go five clear of Leicester

You have to go back to November 9 for the last time City kicked off a matchday in second place.

It has been a long slog trying to overhaul Leicester but they sit two points ahead of them today.

And with the Foxes not in action until tomorrow when they play Burnley at Turf Moor, the opportunity is there to go five points clear.

Having been trying to hold off City for so long, how will Leicester cope with trying to chase them?

Could Rodri partner Fernandinho at centre-back again?

In the fixture at Selhurst Park in October, Pep Guardiola surprised everyone by naming midfield pair Rodri and Fernandinho as his centre backs, despite having John Stones and Eric Garcia in the matchday squad.

It looked like a risk, but they had a fairly comfortable afternoon and kept a clean sheet – Guardiola was comfortable enough to repeat the idea a few days later against Atalanta in the Champions League, but that time the Spain international limped off before half time.

He has not played as part of a pair at the back since – maybe Guardiola was waiting for Palace to come around again.

Three selection choices will be interesting from Guardiola today

Pep’s team selections remain almost as intriguing as the game, and three areas will be of special interest today.

With Aymeric Laporte a week away from a projected return, the fight to be his partner in defence is on – Fernandinho is in possession but last week John Stones gave us a reminder that he is quicker than the others and looks class at times. He just needs consistency.

Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero were both shoe-horned into the team last week, with a six-goal outcome. Whether Pep will stick with that or bring back Raheem Sterling – who has been below par, remains to be seen.

And thirdly, central midfield is a tough shout. Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri are virtual certs, but Davids Silva, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden all have their eyes on that third spot, with Riyad Mahrez staking a strong claim to the right-hand berth.

Laporte’s impending comeback means others must take their chances

Aymeric Laporte’s impending return heightens the competition for centre-back.

If the Frenchman returns when he hopes to, it leaves just this game and Sheffield United on Tuesday as the opportunity for John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi and others to show why they should keep their place in the starting lineup.

Guardiola has made such a big deal of Fernandinho playing there he is unlikely to move the Brazilian out.

Ederson was the hero last time against Palace

City put in an excellent performance in the reverse fixture this season to claim a 2-0 win but they were indebted to Ederson who made a blinding save from Benteke to save what could have been a very nervy finale.

Guardiola afterwards made the point that his team needed to be more clinical and after scoring six against Aston Villa will hope that his players can carry that level of precision through to today to save Ederson having to put in another superstar performance

Five things spotted in Man City training ahead of Crystal Palace

Manchester City trained on Thursday ahead of their Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola put the Blues through their paces.

We spotted five things during the session.

Pep Guardiola’s programme notes

“The response to losing at Wolves at Christmas has been everything I expected from a team that won four trophies last season and is a proud champion.

“We have won five games in succession and shown we are going to fight hard for the rest of the season in all the competitions open to us.”

How Man City should line up against Crystal Palace

Pep Guardiola celebrates his 49th birthday on Saturday and will hope Manchester City will hand him a perfect gift – three points against Crystal Palace.

The Eagles shocked City last year in the Premier League, winning 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium, which dented their title hopes at the time.

Guardiola has no fresh injury concerns to worry about giving him plenty of selection decisions to make.

City could have a golden opportunity

Many believe the title race is over but City should never be counted out just yet. Liverpool have looked formidable but typically struggle against Manchester United.

United are the only side to take points from Jurgen Klopp’s men this season and form often goes out the window in games like these.

United showed what they’re capable of in derby games against City earlier in the season and could do the same again at Anfield tomorrow.

A win today would see City start to close the gap if Liverpool do drop points.

Palace will need to up their level

Crystal Palace had a terrific 2019 but they’ve slumped their way into 2020.

Roy Hodgson’s side have just one win in their last eight games in all competitions including a limp FA Cup exit that disappointed for a club that won’t be troubled by a relegation battle this season.

They have shown what they can do this season but they will need to seriously up their levels if they’re to get anything today.

City shouldn’t focus on the title race

The corresponding fixture last season seemed to be a significant moment in the title race a the Blues slipped up 3-2 at home, beaten by a wondrous 30-yard volley from Andros Townsend.

With a defeat at Leicester following soon afterwards, the Blues looked to have conceded a telling seven-point deficit to leaders Liverpool.

Ultimately, they hauled that gap back but that is not happening this year. City just need to keep going, ploughing their own furrow, winning games and not thinking too hard about anything else.

Pep Guardiola sent a message yesterday

It feels weird to be going to a City game at 3pm on a Saturday but let us make the most of any that come our way.

The message from Pep Guardiola yesterday was that everything is back to normal: he will be here next season, the team are in a very good place and second in the league again, and all is well.

The manager will hope that his team can pick up a routine win from what is anything but a routine kick-off time for them these days.

Good afternoon!

Welcome to our coverage of today’s game against Crystal Palace.

We’ll have all the updates in the lead up to kick off including team news.