Crystal Palace's early-season rebuild faces its sternest test as a heavily-rotated Manchester City visit Selhurst Park. Both sides are missing five regular starters, but the gap in quality is stark—City still field Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and creative newcomer Rayan Cherki…
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City: Pierre Sage's Selhurst Park bow
Crystal Palace welcome Manchester City to Selhurst Park on Friday evening for the second round of the 2026‑27 Premier League season. It is new manager Pierre Sage’s first home match in charge, with the Eagles seeking to arrest a five‑game winless league run that stretches back to the end of the last campaign. City, beaten to the title in 2025‑26, arrive in south London looking to build early momentum behind last season’s 27‑goal striker Erling Haaland.
Team News and Injury Latest
Palace are hopeful goalkeeper Dean Henderson will be fit after twisting his ankle in the club’s final pre‑season friendly. “We want him to play, but we gave him a few days of treatment to allow him to be in his best shape,” Sage said (via premierleague.com). Forward Jean‑Philippe Mateta, the Eagles’ 12‑goal top scorer last term, is unlikely to start as he continues his return to full fitness, but he will be in the matchday squad. Summer signing Dwight McNeil could make his home debut, while Oscar Mingueza and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also available.
For Manchester City, winger Jérémy Doku (calf) and midfielder Matheus Nunes (match fitness) are doubts. Otherwise Pep Guardiola has a near‑full squad to choose from, with Gianluigi Donnarumma expected to start in goal and Phil Foden, Abdukodir Khusanov and Rayan Aït‑Nouri all pushing for inclusion. Haaland will lead the line after a pre‑season in which he looked sharp.
Palace’s Winless Streak and Summer Rebuild
Crystal Palace finished 15th last season with 45 points and a minus‑10 goal difference, and ended the campaign without a victory in their final five league matches (D3 L2). The summer brought significant change: Oliver Glasner departed, and Frenchman Pierre Sage was appointed. Key defender Maxence Lacroix left for Chelsea, while Brennan Johnson moved to Everton. In their place, McNeil, Mingueza and ex‑Ajax defender Takehiro Tomiyasu were recruited to refresh a side that struggled for consistency.
Haaland the Focal Point
Erling Haaland fired 27 league goals last term from 126 shots, hitting the target 59 times – a volume that made him the division’s most prolific striker. Phil Foden complemented that attack with 7 goals and 54 chances created, while new addition Rayan Aït‑Nouri adds width on the left. Against a Palace backline missing the departed Lacroix, Haaland’s physicality and movement in the box will pose a constant threat. The hosts’ centre‑back partnership of Chris Richards and Chadi Riad – or perhaps Mingueza – will need to be at their organised best.
What Would a Result Mean?
Palace’s faithful will hope a positive result against the perennial title challengers can ignite Sage’s tenure. For City, three points in London would underline their credentials after last season’s near‑miss. Friday’s clash at Selhurst Park, the first of two tricky away fixtures before the September international break, offers an early examination of both sides’ ambitions.
