By Graham Ruthven
Hovering Eagles
Final weekend’s Manchester Derby was one to neglect. Manchester Metropolis should discover a greater stage to get the higher of high-flying Crystal Palace on Saturday with the Eagles at the moment on a run of six wins of their final seven video games.
Metropolis struggled with out Erling Haaland at Previous Trafford. Omar Marmoush led the road, however struggled for house as Manchester United sat deep and stayed compact. The Egyptian should do extra to have an effect on issues within the ultimate third this weekend.
Palace aren’t precisely struggling for attacking firepower for the time being. Certainly, they’ve discovered the again of the web 14 occasions of their final six video games in all competitions with Jean-Philippe Mateta again from damage.
Mateta discovered the again of the web in Crystal Palace’s 2-1 win over Brighton final weekend. Eberechi Eze has additionally been in glorious type of late, registering 4 aim involvements in his final three appearances. He will probably be a risk on the Etihad Stadium.
There’s solely two factors between fourth and seventh within the Premier League desk with Metropolis within the race to qualify for subsequent season’s Champions League. A optimistic outcome on Saturday would level them in the fitting route once more.
Key gamers
Whereas Marmoush was quiet in opposition to Manchester United within the derby, the Egyptian has nonetheless made a robust begin to life at Metropolis, scoring 5 targets in simply 9 Premier League appearances.
Pep Guardiola deployed Kevin de Bruyne as a ‘False 9’ in opposition to United, however is extra more likely to drop the Belgian again into the midfield unit to face Crystal Palace. Metropolis want the out-going creator to be at his ingenious finest.
Phil Foden has been a shadow of the participant who was Participant of the 12 months within the Premier League final season. Nonetheless, the England worldwide is able to producing one thing out of nothing and can nearly definitely function on Saturday.
Palace’s frontline of Mateta, Eze and Ismaïla Sarr has the potential to trigger Manchester Metropolis all types of issues. Oliver Glasner likes his crew to play at velocity and this might expose the house in behind Guardiola’s backline.
Adam Wharton can be the kind of central midfielder Guardiola needs he had. The England worldwide is again to his finest after a sluggish begin to the season and can give Palace a foothold within the centre of the pitch.
Workforce information
Haaland continues to be unavailable by way of damage with the Norwegian striker anticipated to overlook the remainder of the season. Rodri is one other long-term absentee, though the Spaniard could possibly be again earlier than the top of the 2024/25 marketing campaign.
Manuel Akanji, Nathan Aké and John Stones are lacking for Manchester Metropolis, leaving Guardiola wanting choices on the again. This might see Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes proceed within the full again positions.
Marc Guéhi and Eddie Nketiah are each suspended for the journey to the Etihad Stadium after seeing purple within the win over Brighton whereas Cheick Doucouré and Chadi Riad are nonetheless sidelined by way of damage.
In any other case, Glasner has a totally match and obtainable squad to select from. Palace have the potential to shock Metropolis in entrance of their very own followers.
Prediction
This could possibly be one other stumbling block in Metropolis’s efforts to succeed in subsequent season’s Champions League with the visiting Eagles greater than able to securing an away win: Man Metropolis 1-2 Crystal Palace.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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