Kevin De Bruyne and lethal Striker Sergio Aguero are set to return to the team to as Manchester City travel to troubled Huddersfield.
De Bruyne is yet to feature for a full 90 minutes after his recovery from knee injuries, but his substitute appearance Rotherham, Burton and Wolves suggest the Belgian is ready for a permanent return to the first team.
Huddersfield, for all their troubles this season, will provide the bite of a side fighting for their lives at the foot of the table and De Bruyne’s steeliness in midfield is a quality that comes in handy for Guardiola in a fixture of this nature.
De Bruyne should be partnered by Bernardo Silva in front of Fernandinho with the defensive line of Kyle Walker, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Danilo being maintained.
Despite Gabriel Jesus rediscovering his form, Aguero remains the best striker on the books at the Etihad.
After City fell to three defeats in four league games in December, Guardiola knows that there is no room for error between now and the end of the season as City look to keep pace with Liverpool.
Jesus has been a reinvigorated figure in recent weeks – his upturn in form came from a visit from his Brazilian family – and there is little more the 21-year-old could have done to persuade Guardiola of his value to this City team.
David Wagner left Huddersfield by mutual consent on Monday, with Mark Hudson his temporary replacement, and it is hard to imagine the Terries in their new guise will stop City’s onslaught.
Liverpool maintained the gap at the top of the table with a 4-3 win over Crystal Palace at Anfield to complicate matters for rivals City.
Mohamed Salah scored twice – including his 50th Premier League goal – as Liverpool survived a scare by coming from behind to defeat a resolute Crystal Palace in a seven-goal thriller at Anfield.
The Reds led 3-2 as the final whistle of a topsy-turvy match approached, but after James Milner was sent off in the 89th minute for two yellow-card offences, it was a nervy ending as the Premier League leaders desperately tried to hold on to their lead.
The win was ultimately secured when Sadio Mane added a fourth in stoppage time, though there was still time for Max Meyer to score a consolation for the visitors.
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