PALACE v CITY

Must win game.

Ederson
Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Zinchenko
Fernandinho
KDB, Silva
Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling

Palace have been doing pretty well so far this season, we need to be careful not to let them have too much space behind us.  As strong a team as we can muster please, Pep!

If there’s one legit criticism of Pep, it’s that his stubbornness leads to excessive loyalty to certain players so I’m half expecting the same ponderous midfield that played so poorly v Wolves. Agree that Fern should start DM if possible, and I’d love to see Foden alongside KDB, the lad was excellent for the U-21s last week and is long overdue a start in the Prem.

XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Rodri, Fernandinho, Mendy, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Silva, Bernardo, Sterling, Jesus
SUBS: Bravo, Stones, Aguero, Angelino, Mahrez, Foden, Garcia

Rodri at CB by the looks, Gundo DM. Didn’t see that coming.

Back on track, decent performance and should have been 3 or 4. Couple of great saves from Ederson and Rodri looked a decent ball-playing CB. I wonder how he feels about changing position.

Still trying to figure out how that penalty claim was not given against Zaha! KDB was favourite to beat him to the ball and Zaha, without even looking at the ball or trying to play it,  shoved KDB over. VAR has to be operated by neutral officials because refs policing their buddies is just never going to work. In this case Oliver was never going to make his mate Taylor look bad for making a “ clear and obvious error” and Taylor would never do it to Oliver either, it’s a joke!

Some pretty bizarre VAR decisions in the other games too. They just don’t have the balls to undermine the ref by overturning the on-field decision, and hide behind the absurd “clear and obvious” excuse.

I didn't get the non award to watford for the penalty. Was clear penalty in my eyes as vertongen took delefeou's leg with the follow through. The second part of this was that Chris Kavanagh ( the ref) was the same one who awarded the Mane penalty against Leicester. The contact in that was minimal yet the contact in this incident was far more obvious.

These refs all work together every week, so Taylor is not going to be happy with Oliver on the VAR if he makes him look a fanny by calling up a clear and obvious error. Those manning the VAR should be ex players or ex refs

Dippers finally don't get a VAR decision too. Who would have thought rags actually have some game after all.

Spirited effort from the Rags. Let’s hope it serves as inspiration for other relegation-battlers when they play the Dippers.