Pep Guardiola could foresee Julian Alvarez's role in Manchester City's win at Crystal Palace well before the Argentine was introduced alongside matchwinner Erling Haaland.
City were on top at Palace throughout, but couldn't find a goal and Haaland was guilty of spurning a glorious chance against a resolute defence. Alvarez replaced Phil Foden just before the hour mark, and immediately played up alongside Haaland as City changed their shape to accommodate the striker.
Alvarez almost scored within a minute or two of his introduction, and the new system sparked City's improvement that would lead to their goal - a Haaland penalty after smart work from Ilkay Gundogan to win a short corner and tempt a foul.
