Manchester City travel to Selhurst Park on Friday evening looking to build on their opening-weekend win over Bournemouth, but they arrive at a Crystal Palace side engulfed in its own turbulence, both on the pitch and off it.
Enzo Maresca, in just his second match since replacing Pep Guardiola, will hope for a smoother night than last weekend's dramatic 2-1 comeback win, which was only secured through two late goals, including a stoppage-time winner from Josko Gvardiol. City again named Marc Guehi, the former Palace defender, in a deeper midfield role alongside Elliot Anderson, with Rayan Cherki coming into the side in place of Rico Lewis after his impressive substitute appearance last time out. New signing Ayyoub Bouaddi, an 18-year-old midfielder, was named among the substitutes rather than handed a full debut.
Explaining his continued faith in Guehi as a midfielder rather than a centre-back, Maresca said: "After the Arsenal game [in the Community Shield], we struggled a bit in the middle of the field. This is a league where you need strong midfielders. Marc can do this job. On the ball, he is strong, off the ball he is defensively strong, he gives balance to the team. It's good to be versatile." On Bouaddi, he added: "Bouaddi is an unbelievable player but he is 18, he is young, from France, he needs time... No rush for him. For sure he will help us now and in the future. But he is just 18. It is my job and it's the club's job to manage him in the best way, don't put pressure on him."
City's XI read: Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Anderson, Guehi; Foden, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland, with Rulli, Kovacic, Ait-Nouri, Reis, Echeverri, Bouaddi, McAidoo, Braithwaite and Lewis among the substitutes.
For Palace, new head coach Pierre Sage is already navigating a difficult opening chapter following an opening-day defeat at Everton. Jean-Philippe Mateta was absent through injury, though it is understood he also wants to leave the club, while Daniel Munoz was named only among the substitutes amid reports of a £22million bid from Nottingham Forest, now managed by Oliver Glasner. New £21m arrival Anan Khalaili was handed a starting role at right wing-back, while Ismaila Sarr was missing from the squad entirely, with interest from Liverpool reportedly growing. Takehiro Tomiyasu came into the back three in place of Chadi Riad, who was stretchered off against Everton, and Yeremy Pino started ahead of Dwight McNeil.
Palace lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Henderson; Tomiyasu, Richards, Canvot; Khalaili, Kamada, Wharton, Mitchell; Nketiah, Pino; Strand Larsen, with Benitez, Munoz, Disasi, Lerma, McNeil, Gozo, Hughes, Guessand and Mingueza among the substitutes.
Ahead of his first home game in charge, Sage struck a determined tone when discussing his relationship with supporters. "I will give my life to make them happy. I cannot do more," he said. "It will be a wonderful moment, but I prefer to have a wonderful moment with good news at the end of the game. That's why I don't think about me in this situation. The most important thing is the team and the result for sure, because we prepare all week for that, to make the fans happy. They will be happy to see us, but I think they would prefer to see us win."
The match also comes against the backdrop of significant news away from the pitch, with Palace's well-known ultras group, the Holmesdale Fanatics, announcing they are ceasing all organised activity after more than two decades. In a statement, the group cited rising ticket prices, restrictive matchday policies and increasing legal pressures as reasons for young supporters being pushed away from the game. The group referenced their role in the 2010 protests that helped save the club, as well as their contribution to some of English football's most memorable tifo displays, including a widely praised display at this year's FA Cup final. The Independent has also reported that Palace face a High Court lawsuit from Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis over an allegedly libellous banner displayed at Selhurst Park last season.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding both clubs, Palace's recent history of resilience, including an FA Cup triumph and European success despite losing key players such as Michael Olise, Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze, means Sage's side will not be dismissed lightly as they look to make home advantage count against City in front of a passionate Selhurst Park crowd.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football and The Independent.