After watching their side beat Bournemouth to progress to the FA Cup semi-finals before getting the better of a doomed Leicester City outfit in the Premier League, Man City supporters were hoping to celebrate three wins in a row for the first time since January at the hands of their rivals Manchester United last weekend.

However, the 196th Manchester derby was a dull and disappointing encounters that ended goalless at Old Trafford, and another two points dropped by Guardiola's side leaves their Champions League qualification hopes in the balance heading into their remaining seven top-flight fixtures.

Man City have been boosted by the news that finishing fifth in the Premier League will secure a place at Europe's top table next season, but as things stand, they currently sit in sixth spot and one point behind both Chelsea in fourth and Newcastle United in fifth, the latter of whom have a game in hand.

Four or Man City's next five Premier League fixtures are against bottom-half teams, starting with Saturday's clash against 11th-placed Crystal Palace, a side who the Citizens have lost just one of their last 12 top-flight meetings with (W7 D4) - going down 2-0 at the Etihad in October 2021.

Guardiola's men have in fact won only two of their last six home league games against the Eagles (D2 L2), and they have also failed to win any of their last three Saturday lunchtime kickoffs (D1 L2), so success in front of their own fans is not a given this time around.

Man City are sure to be aware of Crystal Palace's impressive run of form during which they have lost only two of their last 17 matches across all competitions since the end of December (W12 D3), and they extended their unbeaten run to seven games with a 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.

Despite ending the feisty M23 derby with nine men, goals from Daniel Munoz and Jean-Philippe Mateta secured maximum points for the Eagles, who have climbed up to 11th place and sit just two points behind Bournemouth in 10th. A late push for Europe cannot be entirely ruled out, as they sit five points behind eighth-placed Fulham with a game in hand.

Only champions-elect Liverpool (23) have picked up more points over the last 10 Premier League matches than Crystal Palace (22 - W7 D1 L2), while the Eagles have also won four of their last five league games (D1), and six of their last eight away from home (D2).

Oliver Glasner's side travel to the Etihad unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League away games (W6 D4) and never before in their league history have they enjoyed a longer run without defeat on the road. The Eagles won four of those games in a row by a 2-0 scoreline before drawing 1-1 with relegated Southampton in their most recent away trip.

Palace have had mixed success in front of goal when facing Man City at the Etihad, as they have either failed to score (five times) or have scored exactly twice (six times) in their last 11 Premier League visits. The Eagles will be boosted by the fact that the Citizens have kept just four clean sheets out of 15 on home soil this season.

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Gundogan, Gonzalez; Savinho, De Bruyne, Doku; Marmoush

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:

Henderson; Lerma, Lacroix, Richards; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta