Crystal Palace vs Manchester City: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Team News, Tactics and Key Stats

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 27: Raheem Sterling of Manchester City takes on DeAndre Yedlin of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St. James' Park on December 27, 2017 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The league leaders travel to Selhurst Park to face an in-form Roy Hodgson side on Sunday afternoon.

A defeat to Manchester City could land the Eagles into relegation zone while City, on the other hand, would be looking to extend their lead to 18 points at the top of the table.

Pep Guardiola’s side would be looking to extend their record 18 match unbeaten run in the Premier League when they take on Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon at Selhurst Park. The Etihad outfit have taken an incredible 58 out of 60 possible points this season – a feat which has seen them lead the league table by a massive 15 points just half-way into the season.

Crystal Palace’s unbeaten run of 8 games ended with a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Arsenal last week. However the Eagles are flying high and have seen the likes of Zaha and Townsend back to their best. A fiery competition could be expected with goals aplenty.

Team News & Tactics

Manchester City

Captain Vincent Company is out with a calf injury while Jesus could replace Aguero in the starting line-up. Aguero has hit a barren patch in front of goal and has been linked to the likes of Real Madrid and PSG, with Guardiola keen on bringing Alexis Sanchez as his replacement in January. Mendy, Stones and Delph meanwhile remain on injury-list.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Mangala, Otamendi, Delph; De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Gundogan; Sterling, Jesus, Sane

Crystal Palace

Manager Roy Hodgson has lamented Palace’s injury problems. He said, “We have a few knocks. There’s no doubt that when I see the players tomorrow there will be several doubtful. Not necessarily serious injuries, but they may be sufficient to keep them out [against] Man City. The squad is not enormous. I know our fans will be back on Sunday to support us in the same way. We’ll put out the best 11 we can and those players will be doing their level best.”

Mamadou Sakho, Damien Delaney and Joel Ward are still injured while Loftus Cheek and Yohan Cabaye could be back in action after suffering minute injury scare in their last week clash against Arsenal.

Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Speroni; Kelly, Tomkins, Dann, Schlupp; Townsend, Cabaye, Milivojevic, Loftus-Cheek; Benteke, Zaha

Key Stats

Player to watch

Wilfried Zaha

For the Eagles to roar, Zaha has to be at his best on Sunday. (Picture Courtesy – AFP/Getty Images)

The Ivory Coast International has been back to his best after a knee injury kept him out of Palace lineup for almost 2 months. The 2-time Crystal Palace Player of the Year has seen his stock rise since and is a transfer target for the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal.

Even City manager Guardiola has admitted the impact Zaha has made on the Eagles side and says he’s “really impressed with what Zaha is able to do.” The former Manchester United player boasts an impressive 4 goals and 1 assist in 14 club appearances this season.

Prediction

Crystal Palace 2-4 Manchester City

City have plundered a record 61 goals in just 20 outings this season and expect to continue the same when they visit Crystal Palace. Sterling has seen a transformation under Guardiola this season and has outscored even Sergio Aguero – with 13 goals to his kitty. Jesus has 8 goals to his name, while De Bryune and Sane have 6.

Zaha and Townsend have shown flashes of brilliance and are expected to be on score-sheet, however it seems City can’t stop scoring and it’s going to be just one of the many games City have run riot on.

The league leaders travel to Selhurst Park to face an in-form Roy Hodgson side on Sunday afternoon.

A defeat to Manchester City could land the Eagles into relegation zone while City, on the other hand, would be looking to extend their lead to 18 points at the top of the table.

Pep Guardiola’s side would be looking to extend their record 18 match unbeaten run in the Premier League when they take on Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon at Selhurst Park. The Etihad outfit have taken an incredible 58 out of 60 possible points this season – a feat which has seen them lead the league table by a massive 15 points just half-way into the season.

Crystal Palace’s unbeaten run of 8 games ended with a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Arsenal last week. However the Eagles are flying high and have seen the likes of Zaha and Townsend back to their best. A fiery competition could be expected with goals aplenty.

Team News & Tactics

Manchester City

Captain Vincent Company is out with a calf injury while Jesus could replace Aguero in the starting line-up. Aguero has hit a barren patch in front of goal and has been linked to the likes of Real Madrid and PSG, with Guardiola keen on bringing Alexis Sanchez as his replacement in January. Mendy, Stones and Delph meanwhile remain on injury-list.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Mangala, Otamendi, Delph; De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Gundogan; Sterling, Jesus, Sane

Crystal Palace

Manager Roy Hodgson has lamented Palace’s injury problems. He said, “We have a few knocks. There’s no doubt that when I see the players tomorrow there will be several doubtful. Not necessarily serious injuries, but they may be sufficient to keep them out [against] Man City. The squad is not enormous. I know our fans will be back on Sunday to support us in the same way. We’ll put out the best 11 we can and those players will be doing their level best.”

Mamadou Sakho, Damien Delaney and Joel Ward are still injured while Loftus Cheek and Yohan Cabaye could be back in action after suffering minute injury scare in their last week clash against Arsenal.

Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Speroni; Kelly, Tomkins, Dann, Schlupp; Townsend, Cabaye, Milivojevic, Loftus-Cheek; Benteke, Zaha

Key Stats

Player to watch

Wilfried Zaha

For the Eagles to roar, Zaha has to be at his best on Sunday. (Picture Courtesy – AFP/Getty Images)

The Ivory Coast International has been back to his best after a knee injury kept him out of Palace lineup for almost 2 months. The 2-time Crystal Palace Player of the Year has seen his stock rise since and is a transfer target for the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal.

Even City manager Guardiola has admitted the impact Zaha has made on the Eagles side and says he’s “really impressed with what Zaha is able to do.” The former Manchester United player boasts an impressive 4 goals and 1 assist in 14 club appearances this season.

Prediction

Crystal Palace 2-4 Manchester City

City have plundered a record 61 goals in just 20 outings this season and expect to continue the same when they visit Crystal Palace. Sterling has seen a transformation under Guardiola this season and has outscored even Sergio Aguero – with 13 goals to his kitty. Jesus has 8 goals to his name, while De Bryune and Sane have 6.

Zaha and Townsend have shown flashes of brilliance and are expected to be on score-sheet, however it seems City can’t stop scoring and it’s going to be just one of the many games City have run riot on.

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