2020-21 Premier League: Week 19 – Manchester City vs Crystal Palace

Manchester City bring Super Sunday to a conclusion as they host Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium in Sunday Night Football.

Should Liverpool lose at teatime, Man City will go second with victory whereas Palace look to climb to 11th.

 

Team News

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Eric Garcia is a doubt for Man City as he looks set for a potential move to Barcelona with personal terms reportedly agreed.

Cole Palmer and Adrian Bernabe both are in contention to return following self-isolation after positive Coronavirus tests.

Nathan Ake (muscle), Aymeric Laporte (thigh) and Sergio Aguero (self-isolation) remain ruled out.

Palace have no fresh injury concerns to report as Jeffrey Schlupp (hamstring), Wayne Hennessey, Mamadou Sakho, Nathan Ferguson, Connor Wickham (all thigh) and Martin Kelly (calf) remain absent.

 

Stat Attack

• Man City have lost just one of their last five meetings against Crystal Palace (W2, D2, L1).
• Palace are unbeaten in their last two visits to City after losing the previous three beforehand (W1, D1, L3).
• Six of the Citizens’ last seven goals against Palace have come from strikers, with Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling all netting twice.
• City are one of five teams to have just scored one league goal from outside the box this season, of which the four other clubs include; Arsenal, Burnley, Newcastle and Sheffield Utd.
• No Palace player has had more touches of the ball in the Premier League this season than the 898 touches made by Cheikhou Kouyate in 18 appearances.

 

Prediction

Man City come into this game in strong form but were made to really work for Wednesday’s win over Brighton, although many of their shots in that game felt passive which will be a slight worry if their attacking isn’t sharp against Palace.

Speaking of Roy Hodgson’s Eagles, they certainly were made to work hard at Arsenal for a valuable point in an attacking game yet only two of their 12 shots were on target which isn’t ideal coming into this kind of game.

Saying that, Palace have caused real issues for City in their last two visits to the Etihad Stadium so this could be another nervy contest but I really can’t see City losing here given their improved form and play.

Prediction: Manchester City 1-0 Crystal Palace