Crystal Palace’s injury picture ahead of Friday’s visit from Manchester City is settled, with this update current as of Thursday, 17 September 2026. Pierre Sage has confirmed that Chadi Riad will not feature, while Ismaïla Sarr remains a doubt as the Eagles prepare to host the champions at Selhurst Park at 8pm.
The fixture follows a difficult afternoon for Palace, who lost 2-0 at Everton on 22 August, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry on target for the hosts. That defeat also produced the injury problem Sage now has to manage before Manchester City arrive.
Latest update on Crystal Palace squad availability for Manchester City
Sage’s most pressing concern is the fitness of his defence and attack in equal measure. Riad picked up his injury during the loss at Everton. He has since been ruled out of the Manchester City game entirely, leaving a gap at the back that the manager must address before kick-off.
Sarr’s situation is less clear-cut. The forward missed the Everton match with a groin complaint and has not yet returned to full training with the group. That keeps him in genuine doubt for Friday rather than a confirmed absentee. Supporters can track how Sage has managed his options across the campaign so far by looking at the full first-team squad depth available to him this season.
Crystal Palace injury and suspension overview ahead of Selhurst fixture
Neither club carries a suspension into this fixture, which simplifies team selection for both Sage and his opposite number, Enzo Maresca. That leaves fitness, rather than discipline, as the only variable shaping either side’s starting eleven.
For Manchester City, Jérémy Doku is the notable absentee. The winger aggravated a calf issue during the Community Shield and is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks. That rules him out of the trip to south London. Elliot Anderson, by contrast, has been passed fit despite suffering severe cramp during City’s recent win over Bournemouth, and is available for selection.
That victory over Bournemouth, won 2-1, showed City’s attacking depth even without Doku. Marcus Tavernier opened the scoring in the 26th minute for the home side before Marc Guéhi and Joško Gvardiol turned the game around for the visitors. Both sides therefore arrive at Selhurst Park with contrasting momentum. Palace fans following the wider picture can see how City’s form fits into the early title race pace being set at the top of the table.
Who is injured for Crystal Palace against Manchester City?
Chadi Riad is the only Crystal Palace player confirmed out for the Manchester City match, having sustained his injury in the defeat at Everton. Ismaïla Sarr is a doubt with a groin complaint rather than a certain absentee, meaning Sage will assess him closer to kick-off.
No other Palace player has been added to the injury list since the Everton game. The club has not reported any fresh fitness concerns from that fixture beyond Riad and Sarr. Suspension is not a factor for either man, or for any of their team-mates, with Palace fielding a full complement of eligible players aside from those two.
What happens next as Pierre Sage finalises team preparations
Sage is expected to finalise his team selection in the build-up to Friday’s kick-off. He must weigh whether Sarr is sharp enough to start or whether the winger needs longer to recover from his groin issue. Riad’s absence means a reshuffle at the back regardless of how that decision goes.
The manager will also be mindful of the squad changes made over the summer when settling on his approach to City. Those moves are covered in detail in the summer transfer window review. Maresca, meanwhile, has fewer selection headaches, with only Doku missing through injury and Anderson cleared to feature after his cramp scare against Bournemouth.
Further confirmation on Sarr’s fitness is expected closer to kick-off. For the background to this week’s build-up, readers can also revisit the original team news report published ahead of the fixture.
