Manchester City once again look to cut their gap to Liverpool as they welcome Crystal Palace to the Etihad Stadium.
City can move 11 points behind the Reds for at least 25 hours with a win, whereas Palace could move up to seventh with victory and results elsewhere swinging in their favour.
Team news
Manchester City have no fresh injury concerns as Aymeric Laporte and Leroy Sane near returns from serious knee injuries.
Palace could welcome Christian Benteke back from a strain which has kept him out of their last five matches in all competitions.
Max Meyer is a doubt with ankle ligament damage suffered during a late tackle by Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last weekend.
Luka Miliovojevic (suspension), Joel Ward (knee), Jeffrey Schlupp, Andros Townsend (both groin), Scott Dann (calf), Patrick van Anholt and Mamadou Sakho (both hamstring) are all ruled out.
Form
Man City enter this match with two defeats from their last seven league games (W5, L2), although they have kept just one clean sheet in their last seven at home across all competitions.
Palace have lost just one of their last nine league games (W3, D5, L1), but haven’t kept clean sheets in their last three away trips.
Stat Attack
- Manchester City have lost just one of their last nine meetings against Crystal Palace (W7, D1, L1).
- Palace have scored just four goals in seven previous Premier League trips to the Etihad Stadium, of which three came in their last trip in a shock 3-2 away win over City (W1, L6).
- Just five of City’s last 16 league goals at home to Palace have come in the first-half.
- There is yet to be a red card in this Premier League fixture after 19 previous meetings.
- 59 of Kevin De Bruyne’s 60 Premier League assists have come for Man City in 138 of his 141 overall Premier League appearances.
Prediction
Despite all of their injury woes, Palace somehow seem to be scraping points together from games which they really ought to of lost which shows their grit and determination.
Those two qualities will be key here because Man City were relentless against Aston Villa last weekend, so Palace are going to need to be at their absolute best, especially in the first-half where City seems vulnerable against Palace at home.
City however seem to have found fresh confidence since their defeat at Wolves a few weeks ago, so I am expecting them to come out fighting and ultimately win this game if want to pile the pressure onto Liverpool.
Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Crystal Palace
Result: Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
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