Pep Guardiola has rotated his Manchester City team for the Premier League clash against Crystal Palace, with none of Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku or Nico O’Reilly starting.
Man City welcome Palace to the Etihad Stadium tonight for what is the first of three games in the space of six days as Guardiola’s side bid to keep their domestic treble hopes alive.
City take on Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday before facing Bournemouth three days later in a fixture that will have an impact on the title race if they claim all three points against the Eagles.
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Speaking after the 3-0 win over Brentford at the weekend, the Man City manager vowed to rotate the team “otherwise we cannot arrive at the final or Bournemouth how we want to”.
Guardiola then doubled down on his rotation plan when previewing the Palace game.
He said: “It’s not a problem for that game [Palace], we arrived with four days and a half [rest] but, of course, after three days we travel to London and after we come back to play Bournemouth.
“I will have to think about it, yes.”
While Rodri is “doing better” in his recovery from a groin injury that has kept him out of action since the 2-1 win over Arsenal on April 19, he is not risked so close to the FA Cup final.
Abdukodir Khusanov, however, does return in central defence alongside ex-Palace captain Marc Guehi after missing the Brentford game with a “tough knock” sustained in the 3-3 draw against Everton.
Ruben Dias is on the bench after nearly two months out with a hamstring injury, with Josko Gvardiol starting on his first appearance since breaking his leg against Chelsea in early January.
Rayan Ait-Nouri comes in for O’Reilly, who isn’t even on the bench. Omar Marmoush, Phil Foden and Savinho all start after making an impact off the bench against Brentford.
Haaland and Cherki are substitutes, thus handing Marmoush and Foden the chance to ensure Man City reduce the gap to leaders Arsenal to two points.
Man City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri, Bernardo, Foden, Semenyo, Savinho, Marmoush
Subs: Trafford, Dias, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Haaland, Cherki, Doku
Injured: Rodri
Time and date: 8pm BST on Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Venue: Etihad Stadium
How to watch: Sky Sports
