Manchester City’s dream spine come February

Manchester City head into their FA Cup fourth round clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday off the back of a frustrating 2-2 draw with Tottenham in the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola’s team were excellent in the first half, but didn’t get their just deserves until the early stages of the second when both Leroy Sane and Kevin De Bruyne profited from surprising Hugo Lloris errors to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.

However, goals from Dele Alli and Son Heung-min exposed City’s defensive deficiencies once again, and all but ended the Citizens’ hopes of regaining the Premier League title this term, given that they fell 12 points behind leaders Chelsea as a result.

Nonetheless, they can turn their attentions away from league matters this weekend when they travel to a struggling Palace in the FA Cup, looking to progress into the last 16 of a competition they won for a fifth time back in 2011.

City will be favourites to get through at Selhurst Park on Saturday, yet many still feel that Guardiola hasn’t quite got the squad he wants at the Etihad Stadium, and so may dip into the winter window for more additions.

Thus, here is what City’s dream spine could look like come the end of the month…