Crystal Palace vs Manchester City: Team News and Lineups
Selhurst Park under the lights, a new era in both dugouts, and a familiar question hanging over the night: can Crystal Palace finally crack Manchester City at home?
These two opened their Premier League campaigns on very different notes. Palace slipped to defeat at Everton. City, chasing back the title they ceded last season, needed late drama to turn over a stubborn Bournemouth. The champions-in-waiting feel like themselves again. Palace are still searching for a foothold.
History at Selhurst offers little comfort for the home side. Palace haven’t beaten City here in the league since 2015. Their most recent triumph over the Manchester giants came not in south London but at Wembley, when they stunned City to lift the FA Cup and claim the first major trophy in the club’s history. That memory lingers, even if the venue and context are very different tonight.
Palace team news: 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 transfer interest from Liverpool. Sage cut through the noise in his pre-match press conference, making it clear the winger’s issue is physical, not contractual. A groin problem has kept him out of full training.
“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. Palace will hope the problem doesn’t linger deep into the autumn.
At the back, there is at least some fresh optimism. New signing Axel Disasi, on loan from Chelsea, is in the squad and already drawing praise from his manager.
“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,” Sage said, underlining the need for calm heads against City’s relentless movement.
Manchester City team news: Doku missing, Bouaddi on standby
On the opposite bench, Enzo Maresca faces his first major away assignment as City manager. He travels without Jeremy Doku, while Matheus Nunes is a doubt.
“Jeremy is out, Matheus we will see; he is still not 100%,” Maresca confirmed. The Italian will be wary of pushing Nunes too hard, too soon, with the schedule already tightening.
The headline, though, is the possible debut of Ayyoub Bouaddi. The 18-year-old, signed from Lille for £86m, is in line to feature for the first time in sky blue. Maresca has already been struck by his maturity.
“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,” he said. The message is clear: the talent is real, but City will not rush him.
Crystal Palace confirmed lineup
Sage has gone with an XI that mixes energy, work rate and a bit of guile:
Starting XI: Henderson; Khalaili, Richards, Tomiyasu, Canvot, Mitchell; Wharton, Kamada; Nketiah, Pino, Strand Larsen.
On the bench, he keeps options in every line:
Substitutes: Benitez, Mingueza, Munoz, Disasi, Lerma, Hughes, Gozo, Guessand.
Wharton’s composure, Kamada’s intelligence between the lines and the running of Nketiah and Pino will be crucial if Palace are to disrupt City’s rhythm and counter with any conviction.
Manchester City confirmed lineup
Maresca’s first big away selection in the league is bold and intriguing:
Starting XI: Donnarumma; Dias, Khushanov, Gvardiol, Guehi; Anderson, O’Reilly, Cherki; Foden, Semenyo, Haaland.
On the bench, there is depth everywhere and the looming presence of that new record signing:
Substitutes: Rulli, Lewis, Kovacic, Ait-Nouri, Reis, Echeverri, Bouaddi, Mcaidoo, Braithwaite.
Haaland leads the line, as ever, with Foden expected to drift into pockets and dictate. The inclusion of Cherki and O’Reilly hints at Maresca’s desire to control not just the ball, but the tempo and angles of every attack.
Selhurst Park has seen City suffer before, even when the results have gone their way. The noise, the tight pitch, the sense that one mistake can flip the night. With a new-look Palace, a new-look City, and a teenage £86m wildcard waiting in the wings, this feels less like a routine away day and more like an early test of what both clubs intend to be this season.
