Manchester City prepares to face Crystal Palace: Khusanov to start?

Today, in the 32nd round of the English Premier League (EPL), Manchester City will host Crystal Palace at their home stadium. Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov is expected to start the match for the City.

City Battling for a Champions League Spot

It’s surprising that the "Cityzens," who are having an unfortunate season, are fighting not for the championship but for a spot in the UEFA Champions League. Securing this spot won't be easy as Manchester City currently sits in 6th place on the EPL table with 52 points. Their closest competitor, Aston Villa, is just one point behind in 7th place. Ahead of City are Newcastle and Chelsea, occupying 5th and 4th place with 53 points each. Recent reports indicate that five teams from England will qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League, which has provided strong motivation for these clubs.

After spending several matches on the bench, Uzbek defender Abduqodir Husanov has a high chance of appearing on the pitch against Crystal Palace. This is due to Niko O’Reilly, who has been taking Khusanov's position, playing on the left flank, forcing Josko Gvardiol to shift to central defense. Notably, the Croatian defender has adapted well to the left flank over several seasons, making it a natural position for him. Therefore, moving Husanov to central defense could provide Gvardiol with more freedom in his usual role.

Predicted Lineups

As with every match, several sports platforms have published predicted lineups for Manchester City's game against Crystal Palace.

According to 90min: Ederson, Nunes, Dias, Khusanov, Gvardiol, Niko, Gundogan, Savino, Foden, Doku, Marmoush.

According to One Football: Ederson, Lewis, Dias, Khusanov, Gvardiol, Niko, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Grealish, Doku, Marmoush.

According to Sportsmole: Ederson, Nunes, Dias, O’Reilly, Gvardiol, Niko, Gundogan, Savino, De Bruyne, Doku, Marmoush.

The first two portals predict the Uzbek defender will start, linking it to Gvardiol’s freedom to return to the left flank. However, the final decision on the starting lineup will, of course, be made by manager Pep Guardiola.

Note: The match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace is scheduled to kick off today, April 12, at 4:30 pm Tashkent time.