Man City vs Crystal Palace Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 English Premier League
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THE FACTS
When is Man City vs Crystal Palace on and what time does it start? Man City vs Crystal Palace will take place on Saturday 16th December, 2023 – 15:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Man City vs Crystal Palace? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Man City vs Crystal Palace on in the UK? Television rights for the Premier League in the UK are shared between Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Amazon Prime so it is worth checking their schedules for Man City vs Crystal Palace
Where can I stream Man City vs Crystal Palace in the UK? If Man City vs Crystal Palace is televised, then it can be streamed on either Sky Go, discovery+ or Amazon Prime Video depending on who is broadcasting the match
THE LOWDOWN
MAN CITY
A heavily rotated Manchester City side edged out Red Star Belgrade by three goals to two in their final UEFA Champions League group stage game in midweek. The Cityzens managed a 100% record in their group stage campaign but their Premier League form has left a lot to be desired as they begin this weekend sitting fourth in the table.
City’s come-from-behind defeat of Luton Town at Kenilworth Road last weekend ended a four-match winless run of form. City have remained strong going forward as the league’s top scorers with 38 goals but they have conceded two or more goals in four of their last six matches across all competitions with just five clean sheets all season.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Roy Hodgson launching into criticism of Crystal Palace supporters as Crystal Palace continue to fall down the table has not gone down well in south London. The Eagles were leading league leaders Liverpool by a goal to nil with less than 15 minutes of the 90 to go last weekend but eventually went down to ten men and suffered a 2-1 loss with an injury to Sam Johnstone compounding matters.
That loss means they have collected just one point from their last five Premier League matches as they sit firmly in the bottom-half of the table. They have managed just one win in their last nine games since late-September with that one victory coming against a struggling Burnley side in early November.
THE TEAM NEWS
MAN CITY
The biggest news from Pep Guardiola’s pre-match press conference was him all but confirming that Erling Haaland will not be involved this weekend as he hopes the big Norwegian frontman will be back in time for City to travel to Saudi Arabia for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Aside from Haaland, Manchester City will also remain without key attackers Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku, who are both injured, whilst Jack Grealish is expected to be fit but is a doubt for this weekend with a hip injury.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Bernardo, Foden, Grealish; Alvarez
UNAVAILABLE: Doku (Injured), De Bruyne (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Grealish (Injured), Haaland (Injured)
CRYSTAL PALACE
As mentioned, Sam Johnstone picked up an injury last weekend and that means Dean Henderson may well be rushed back for the trip to the Etihad Stadium, despite not yet being 100% fit. Johnstone has been joined by midfielder Jefferson Lerma and Odsonne Edouard on the sidelines.
Left-back Tyrick Mitchell, who missed the defeat at home to Liverpool, will be available for this weekend after being passed fit. However, Palace’s lengthy injury list still includes Cheick Doucoure, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Rob Holding and Eberechi Eze with Jordan Ayew out suspended as a result of his red card last weekend.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Henderson; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Richards, Ahamada; Olise, Hughes, Schlupp; Mateta
UNAVAILABLE: Johnstone (Injured), Holding (Injured), Rak-Sakyi (Injured), Doucoure (Injured), Eze (Injured), Ayew (Suspended), Lerma (Injured), Edouard (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Henderson (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
It is very unlike Manchester City to struggle to string victories together and they will always believe they are approaching one of their long winning streaks. They have only managed back-to-back victories on one occasion since beginning the season with six successive wins. They now face a Crystal Palace side that aren’t necessarily in freefall because of the lack of quality down at the bottom end but there will be growing concerns that they are in a relegation battle. A fairly comfortable home win is to be expected on Saturday before City jet off to Saudi Arabia for the FIFA Club World Cup.
TIP: MAN CITY TO WIN WITH -1 HANDICAP
