Pep Guardiola is keeping his fingers crossed that Manchester City's injury situation will improve in time for Crystal Palace.
The Blues had just three senior defenders fit for their Champions League game at home to Sporting on Wednesday, with Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake all absent from the squad. Dias is out with a hamstring injury, Walker is available as his ban only applied to European competition, and the club will wait on Ake and Cancelo.
Ake has been sidelined since the FA Cup win over Peterborough last week but is expected to return to training this week and could make the squad for Selhurst Park to provide an extra option in the centre of defence. City will also hope Cancelo will be available after he missed the Champions League game with sickness.
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Guardiola knows how good Palace can be having lost to them earlier in the season, and is also aware that there is little margin for error as Liverpool press at the top of the table.
"It's still a few days before Monday night. We have a little bit of a problem, we don't have many players available," he said.
"Hopefully some of them come back at the end of the week. Today was regeneration, training for the guys who didn't play yesterday and celebrate the qualification for the quarter-finals.
"Tomorrow rest then prepare two days for an important game in London. Seeing their run, one loss in eight games in all competitions, the physicality, organisation, quality upfront especially with Zaha. When they defend deep, they are so difficult to break down.
"Selhurst Park always difficult to go to. It's a final for us, we know it. Prepare Saturday, Sunday well to arrive Monday in a good shape to face the opponent."
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