Man City vs. Crystal Palace confirmed lineups: Huge Haaland, Doku, Cherki decisions made as Arsenal are given fresh Premier League title hope

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made six bold changes to his starting lineup for tonight’s Premier League clash against Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium.

The Citizens know that they need claim all three points against the Eagles to maintain realistic hopes of pipping Arsenal to the Premier League title, with a win narrowing the gap to the summit to just two points.

Despite this, and with one eye seemingly on Saturday's FA Cup final, Guardiola has decided to bench top scorer Erling Haaland, in-form Jeremy Doku and key playmaker Rayan Cherki, while rising star Nico O’Reilly is not in the matchday squad. Nathan Ake and Tijjani Reijnders have also dropped out of the side that beat Brentford 3-0 last weekend.

Josko Gvardiol makes a welcome return to the starting lineup after more than three months out with a tibial fracture, while Abdukodir Khusanov also returns after missing the previous match with a knock.

While Gvardiol could begin at left-back, Khusanov is expected to partner former Palace captain Marc Guehi at centre-back, as Matheus Nunes presumably keeps his place at right-back in a four-man defence, protecting goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Rayan Ait-Nouri is also recalled and may be tasked with operating in midfield - if Nunes is not moved into a central position - alongside Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden, who is also drafted in for a rare start in 2026.

Antoine Semenyo retains his starting spot in attack, but Savinho comes in for Doku, while Omar Marmoush will lead the line in the absence of Haaland.

Meanwhile, there is no place in the matchday squad for midfielder Nico Gonzalez, who watched on as an unused substitute against Brentford last time out, while Rodri is also not fit to return from a groin issue.

Mateta, Pino start, Sarr, Wharton benched by Crystal Palace

As for Crystal Palace, manager Oliver Glasner has made a total of four changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Everton at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is recalled at the expense of Jorgen Strand Larsen and will make his 199th appearance from the Eagles.

Top scorer Ismaila Sarr, who netted his 20th goal in all competitions last time out, has been replaced by Yeremy Pino, who will play alongside Brennan Johnson in the final third.

Adam Wharton, who has been linked with Man City among other Premier League clubs, and Daichi Kamada have dropped down to the substitutes’ bench, with Jefferson Lerma and Will Hughes both handed starts in centre-midfield.

Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell will continue as wing-backs, while Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix and Jaydee Canvot all start again at centre-back in front of goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

Manchester City starting lineup: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Gvardiol; Ait-Nouri, Bernardo, Foden; Savinho, Marmoush, Semenyo

Subs: Trafford, Dias, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Haaland, Cherki, Doku

Crystal Palace starting lineup: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Canvot; Munoz, Lerma, Hughes, Mitchell; Johnson, Pino; Mateta

Subs: Benitez, Sarr, Clyne, Kamada, Wharton, Strand Larsen, Riad, Devenny, Cardines