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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
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Harry Siddall

Jack Grealish starts and Raheem Sterling benched — Man City fans pick line up vs Crystal Palace

Manchester City return to Premier League action with a trip to face Patrick Vieira's Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, looking to open a six-point gap at the top of the table.

Pep Guardiola's side responded to a shock home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur with back-to-back wins against Everton and Manchester United, and are looking to continue their gathering momentum by taking all three points tonight.

Back in October, Crystal Palace inflicted City's second Premier League defeat of the season, with Wilfried Zaha and Conor Gallagher scoring the goals in a 2-0 win. The Blues were hampered by Aymeric Laporte's red card just before half-time, but Vieira's men got a deserved victory.

READ MORE: Pep Guardiola makes Aymeric Laporte request amid Ruben Dias City injury

Liverpool's 2-0 win against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday lunchtime has heaped the pressure back on City, and they'll hope to respond with a resounding performance at a ground that has been a happy hunting ground for them as of late. Ahead of a crucial clash, here's how the fans, responding to an MEN survey, would line-up the side against Palace:

Goalkeeper - Ederson

It seems like Scott Carson's Champions League heroics to stop Sporting CP bagging a winner hasn't convinced Blues to start the cult hero in goal, with Ederson clearly the preferred choice.

Defence - Kyle Walker, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo

The fans wouldn't make any changes to the back four that played against Manchester United.

Kyle Walker was suspended in midweek so will be well rested and raring to go, as will Joao Cancelo, who missed a game through illness but was back in training over the weekend.

Nathan Aké was also back in training, but Blues want to see the partnership of John Stones and Laporte continue to blossom in Dias' absence.

Midfielders - Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne

Again, unchanged in midfield if the fans get their way. It seems like Guardiola's Bernardo Silva in the false nine experiment has ended and he's returned back to his natural spot next to Kevin De Bruyne in the centre of midfield.

Club captain Fernandinho earned huge plaudits for his Champions League display against sporting, but readers want Rodri back in the base of the midfield to deal with the threat Conor Gallagher possesses.

Forwards - Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez

The £100 million signing Grealish was not many City fans go-to man a week ago, but his performance in the Manchester derby has seen him displace Raheem Sterling in the eyes of many. The 26-year-old was electric last Sunday and he will be raring to go again and become a mainstay in the side.

The other two spots may be Guardiola's first names on the team sheet.

Phil Foden has perfected his craft in the false nine role and is likely to be the man there going forward, and Riyad Mahrez has 21 goals in all competitions for City so far this season - a shoe-in on the right side.

Manchester City fans' XI to face Crystal Palace (Pick Your Team)

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