Last season when Andros Townsend sent a screamer for the ages into the roof of Ederson’s net it signalled Manchester City being under pressure for the first time in a thoroughly gripping title race. The stakes aren’t as high this time. Nevertheless, Roy Hodgson has been a tricky opponent for Pep Guardiola during the Catalan’s time in England. City are currently playing with a lot of freedom. Pep has enjoyed trying all sorts of tactical variations, secure in the knowledge they are neither likely to catch Liverpool nor be overtaken by anyone else for second. Such tactical wizardry will be needed against a well-drilled Eagles defence that isn’t the easiest to breach, even for the best teams in the country.