City, Palace weigh priorities in FA Cup

MANCHESTER City supporters must once again wait to see which version of Pep Guardiola’s team shows up in today’s FA Cup fourth-round game at Premier League rivals Crystal Palace.

City have won by four goals or more on five separate occasions, but have also fallen to two 4-0 defeats — at Barcelona and more recently Everton — and been beaten five times in the league.

January has been every bit as see-saw, with City winning 5-0 at West Ham United in the FA Cup, losing 4-0 at Everton and then going 2-0 up against Tottenham Hotspur on their last outing, only to draw 2-2.

Faced with the team’s wildly oscillating form, under-pressure goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has told his teammates: “We must be mentally strong.

“We must keep working hard, keep believing in what we’re doing. It’s the only recipe.

“It’s not a good feeling looking at how things developed (against Tottenham).

“We had everything to win the game, but it’s the same old story: we had trouble creating chances and the other team, with less options, get the goals."

City won 2-1 on their last trip to Selhurst Park in November, but it took an 83rd-minute goal by Yaya Toure, which completed a personal brace, for the visitors to prevail.

Sam Allardyce is yet to make his mark at Palace, whose 2-1 third-round replay win over Bolton Wanderers is the only game they have won since he succeeded Alan Pardew as manager in December.

But they were unfortunate to lose 1-0 at home to Everton last weekend, Seamus Coleman netting an 87th-minute winner despite Palace debutant Jeff Schlupp being down injured and a hint of offside.

Allardyce took his team’s performance as a good omen.

“Everton beat Manchester City 4-0 last week and were lucky to beat us, so we have to take positives out of that,” said the former England manager.

Palace reached the FA Cup final last season, narrowly losing 2-1 to Manchester United, but with relegation a very real prospect, Allardyce has made it clear the competition is not a top priority.

With a trip to Bournemouth in the league on Tuesday to follow, he is likely to rotate his starting XI, as he did against his former club Bolton in round three.

Schlupp is a minor doubt after cramping up in the latter stages of the defeat against Everton, while midfielder Jordon Mutch is carrying a knock.

Goalkeeper Steve Mandanda (knee), left-back Pape Souare (broken leg) and striker Connor Wickham (knee) are all long-term absentees.

Guardiola named a strong team for City’s trip to West Ham in the previous round, but with Wednesday’s return to London Stadium in the league looming, he too is likely to shuffle his pack.

It could be an opportunity for captain Vincent Kompany to make his return to the starting XI following a two-month lay-off that began when he injured his knee in November’s game at Palace.

John Stones is a candidate to partner him in central defence, having paid for another shaky display at his old club Everton by being demoted to the bench for the draw with Spurs.

Willy Caballero is expected to take over from Bravo in goal.

City’s travelling fans will hope to get another glimpse of 19-year-old Brazilian starlet Gabriel Jesus, who made an eye-catching debut cameo as a late substitute against Spurs.

Ilkay Gundogan is City’s only confirmed absentee, the Germany midfielder having been ruled out for the season with a knee injury.

Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp backed striker Daniel Sturridge to rediscover his best form following suggestions that long-term injuries have reduced the England international’s pace.

The 27-year-old Sturridge, who has not scored in his last five appearances for the Premier League club, has struggled with injuries throughout his career.

“Usually, and it’s not about speed, Daniel scores twice. But he is a human being and he missed the chances. Of course longer injuries can have an impact. Ask a sprinter,” Klopp told reporters on Friday.

Sturridge’s ability to adapt to Klopp’s high-pressing playing style has also been doubted after the striker missed a series of chances as Liverpool were knocked out of the League Cup by Southampton on Wednesday.

“If you get a few injuries maybe it takes time, but it’s not lost forever. Daniel is the best age for a football player. If he can stay fit everything will be fine,” Klopp added.

Klopp hinted that he will make changes when Liverpool host second-tier side Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup fourth round today but will not play midfielder Adam Lallana for fear of aggravating his injury.

“We will not make 10 changes. We will have a very good team for tomorrow (today). Lallana got a cut and needed stitches, I’m not sure we should try it,” the charismatic German said.

“We will see how (Nathaniel) Clyne is, hopefully he can be a part tomorrow. We will have to make a few changes.”

Klopp said it was unlikely Liverpool will sign any players before the January transfer window closes on Tuesday. — AFPReuters.