Crystal Palace vs Manchester City predictions: Citizens to storm Palace
- Crystal Palace have lost five of last eight games against Man City
- Man City have won each of their last three games by a margin of two goals or more
- Recommended Bet: Man City -1 Spread (3 way)
Crystal Palace entertain title-chasing Manchester City at Selhurst Park on Saturday evening with the pressure beginning to build on Patrick Vieira's side.
The Eagles appear to be sleepwalking into a relegation battle after last week's 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa left them just five points clear of 18th-placed Everton and still without a win of any kind in 2023.
Pep Guardiola's side head to the capital looking to cut into Arsenal's five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, which they were briefly able to reduce to two after securing a 2-0 home win over Newcastle last Saturday.
City failed to take all three points on their last visit to this part of South London almost exactly a year ago with Vieira admitting back then that the Selhurst Park atmosphere helped Palace pull it off.
Team news
Vieira reported no fresh injury concerns on Friday, although he will be forced into at least one change as Cheick Doucoure is suspended for the visit of the champions.
Will Hughes could replace him, although the midfielder will have to be assessed after missing training earlier in the week with an illness.
Sam Johnstone (calf) remains out, while Nathan Ferguson is still short of match fitness.
For City, Phil Foden will be aboard City's flight to South London after overcoming an issue with his foot that flared up after the Newcastle game.
The Englishman has been in top form of late and can expect to be in the line-up at Selhurst Park with Riyad Mahrez potentially sitting on the bench again for this one.
John Stones is pushing for a spot in defence and could make his first Premier League start in more than a month.
The stats
Palace are now winless in their last nine Premier League games, which represents the longest ongoing run of teams currently in the English top flight.
The Eagles have failed to score in five of their last six Selhurst Park meetings with City and registered only once at home in this fixture since 2017, during which time they have scored nine goals in matches played at Etihad Stadium.
Each of City's past nine Premier League goals against Palace have come in the second half of games, with the Citizens failing to score in the opening 45 minutes in each of their past four against the Eagles.
Prediction
City have not always had it their own way at Selhurst Park, but they are set to face one of the least effective teams in the division right now and should take all three points back to Manchester.
Vieira's position will come under threat if his side continue in their winless vein for much longer.
Even the return to fitness of Wilfried Zaha could not spark any great revival at Villa last weekend — where their expected goals figure of just over 0.2 was their second-lowest of the campaign.
The lowest actually came at the Etihad back in August when Palace lost 4-2 after being two goals up completely against the run of play.
That was one of 15 occasions this term that Guardiola's side have won by more than one goal — from 26 Premier League outings.
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