Pep Guardiola expecting tough game against Crystal Palace

Manager Pep Guardiola says he will be treating Monday evening’s game against Crystal Palace as "a final".

Speaking ahead of the encounter, Guardiola said, "It is always a difficult place to go and it always has been difficult for us against Palace, home and away.

"They're doing really well. Seeing their run, just one defeat in eight games, it's a final for us, we know it."

The fixture list is not to City’s advantage as they could be dethroned on April 2 as Liverpool’s game against Watford takes place earlier than City’s trip to Burnley. However, Guardiola says all this is beyond his control.

He said, "All we can do is win our games.

"I would love to be involved in the games of our contenders but I cannot, just one time when Liverpool will take a bus to come here and play the game (10 April).

"The rest we cannot do anything, all we can do is be there at 8pm on Monday and win our game at Crystal Palace. That is all we can control."

Defender Ruben Dias will definitely be missing for the Palace game, while there are also doubts over Nathan Ake, Cole Palmer and Zack Steffen due to a range of injuries.

Meanwhile, Joao Cancelo could also miss the clash due to illness.

Despite this, much may rest on Riyad Mahrez, who is in sensational form right now. He has scored 12 goals in 13 games, but Guardiola still wants more.

He said, "He has scored a lot of goals, penalties, had assists and everything.

"But I would not say it is his best season because he has played in the Premier League at a high level for many years.

"He knows my opinion. I try to push him a lot.

"We struggle together because I know the quality that he has. He is a player that I admire for the way he handles the pressure. He likes to play on the biggest stages and it is difficult to find players like that in top clubs."