KEY ISSUES FOR BLUES

FINISHING NEEDS IMPROVING

NEWCASTLE could have had a point the other night, but hoping that City miss loads of chances is a tactic that hasn’t worked out for anyone this season.

Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus are out of form and it was unusually wasteful for the team to score just one from 22 efforts on goal.

Where Newcastle came closest to getting lucky, it was still not enough and it would be a worry if the Blues are as bad at taking their chances at Palace.

PLAYERS NEED PROTECTION

Another game, another horrific tackle on a City player goes unpunished.

At Newcastle it was Ilkay Gundogan that had the misfortune of having his shin stamped on early in the game.

Andre Marriner, who otherwise had a good game, and his officials all managed to miss it, which is arguably better than seeing Dele Alli’s foul on Kevin De Bruyne and only deeming it worthy of a yellow.

Guardiola is entitled to ask for more protection for his players. It doesn’t matter how fast the game is or how fired up the players, the line for dangerous play has to be more clearly marked.

DEFENCE HAS BEEN EXCELLENT

When City conceded a goal in four consecutive league games following John Stones’ injury, it seemed simple to put two and two together.

Three clean sheets in the four league games since, though, have gone a long way to showing their manager what can be achieved without Stones.

The defence can still be got at but, led by the supreme Nicolas Otamendi, have done enough to create the meanest backline in the league.

ZAHA WATCH

Roy Hodgson has led the south Londoners out of the relegation zone faster than even he thought.

Wilfried Zaha has been central to this. His form has seen him linked to most big clubs and he has been mooted as an Alexis Sanchez alternative for Guardiola.