Pep Guardiola's Man City sub decision leaves Raheem Sterling staring at the exit door

In his five years as Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has only opted not to use a single substitute in four matches. Three of those matches have taken place this season, the latest being the goalless draw at Crystal Palace on Monday night.

The three other times he finished with the same eleven that started the game, City had scored early and largely controlled the games - the 1-0 win at Brentford and 2-0 win at Manchester United this season, and the 2-0 home win over Fulham last season. That is where Guardiola’s decision not to turn to his bench at Selhurst Park differs, and why plenty of City fans have questioned the fact that he did not change personnel in order to try to change the game.

Guardiola ’s case for not doing so was simple and valid - the Blues were in command of the game and playing with a “high, high rhythm”. The fact that City were twice denied by the woodwork, and missed four great chances to win the match further vindicates the manager’s decision.

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But that is no consolation to those players on the bench who will have been itching to get on the field and influence the outcome. And when Guardiola explained his reasoning afterwards, he said that he had considered sending on Gabriel Jesus or Ilkay Gundogan but decided against it.

The fact that Raheem Sterling - a man who has 127 goals for City - was not even mentioned has to cast doubt over his current standing at City. The England star’s only appearance in the last four games has been in the virtual dead-rubber game against Sporting Lisbon, when the Blues had a 5-0 lead from the first leg.

It may be that Guardiola simply forgot to mention Sterling when he proffered Gundogan and Jesus as players