Crystal Palace vs Man City Preview: Team News & Prediction

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It was a tough start to the season for Crystal Palace as they now come up against a Manchester City side experiencing quite a lot of change on Friday.

Kick-off date/time: 28 August 2026 at 8:00 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / USA – USA Network

How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – DirecTV Stream

Crystal Palace preview: Sage in at Selhurst

Following the departure of Oliver Glasner, who won the FA Cup, the Community Shield and the UEFA Europa Conference League with Crystal Palace, The Eagles managed to poach Pierre Sage as their new manager. He led Lens to second place in Ligue 1 last season.

Palace started the 2026-27 season very slowly, though, as they succumbed to a 2-0 loss at the Hill Dickinson Stadium against Everton with goals in either half being scored by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and then Thierno Barry.

Man City preview: Change at City

After a trophy-laden ten-year stint in charge, Pep Guardiola departed Manchester City this summer, replaced by former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca. Guardiola has been followed in his departure by John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Rodri with other sales including James Trafford, Nathan Ake and Savio – while Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush are also set to leave at the time of writing.

Hammered 3-0 by Arsenal in the Community Shield at the Millennium Stadium, City then needed a dramatic and late turnaround to defeat AFC Bournemouth by two goals to one at the Etihad Stadium with strikes from defenders Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol.

Crystal Palace team news: Sarr unavailable

Amid reported interest from Galatasaray and Liverpool, key man Ismaila Sarr is unavailable for this one with Pierre Sage confirming he is currently training on his own to regain fitness.

Morocco international centre-back Chadi Riad is also sidelined due to a knee injury. Daniel Munoz looks set to be involved despite suggestions that Nottingham Forest are trying to sign the Colombia international wing-back.

Predicted XI (3-4-3): Henderson; Canvot, Richards, Disasi; Munoz, Kamada, Wharton, Mitchell; McNeil, Mateta, Nketiah

Unavailable: Riad (Injured), Sarr (Fitness)

Questionable: 

Man City team news: Anderson and Bouaddi both fit and available

Enzo Maresca has said that Elliot Anderson is fit and available to feature here after he was replaced with cramp late on against Bournemouth. Maresca has also said that Ayyoub Bouaddi is fit after completing his move from Lille.

It would be a good shout to suggest Bouaddi will come straight into the eleven after Maresca opted to play Marc Guehi in midfield last weekend.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Anderson, Bouaddi; Semenyo, Foden, Cherki; Haaland

Unavailable: Doku (Injured)

Questionable: Nunes (Injured)

Crystal Palace vs Man City prediction

Enzo Maresca’s starts to roles have often been positive, at Chelsea and before that at Leicester City, and he did get away with a win last week but things do not look or feel overly positive with City at this early stage. That said, Sage and his ability to get his ideas across to Palace may also take some time and so while City remain favourites here, two teams lacking fluency and an immediate sense of their new selves should produce a lower scoring clash in South London.

Crystal Palace vs Man City tip: Man City to win & under 3.5 goals