The State of Play
This season’s Premier League title race is set to be the most absorbing in many years, and champions Manchester City find themselves trailing Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa as we approach the festive period, sitting four points adrift of the summit ahead of this weekend’s fixtures.
Pep Guardiola’s treble winners will jet off to Saudi Arabia to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup next week, so Saturday’s home clash with Crystal Palace represents their last chance to put points on the board before Christmas.
City ended a four-game winless run in league action with a comeback victory over Luton Town last Sunday, with Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish on target after Elijah Adebayo nodded the Hatters ahead. They then turned their attentions to Europe in midweek, making it six wins from six games in the UEFA Champions League group stage by overcoming Red Star Belgrade 3-2 in Serbia.
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With top spot in Group G secured with a match to spare, Guardiola was able to rest key players including Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Julian Alvarez on Wednesday, so City’s stars should be fresh for Saturday’s game at the Etihad Stadium.
Visitors Palace are winless in five Premier League games (one draw, four defeats) and in danger of being dragged into the relegation dogfight, with Roy Hodgson coming under further pressure after last week’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles were on the wrong end of a controversial decision in that game as Jordan Ayew was sent off after receiving two contentious yellow cards, causing their former England boss to say he has grown “disillusioned” with modern football. Can Palace revive his love of the sport by pulling off an upset at the home of the champions?
Etihad. 2021. 2-0 win. #CPFC | #MCICRY pic.twitter.com/ZcZX72dfCQ
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 13, 2023
Team News
City have a few selection dilemmas for this one, not least concerning the Premier League’s leading goalscorer Erling Haaland, who has missed their last two matches with a foot injury.
The Norwegian is unlikely to feature, and it may be a similar story for Jeremy Doku after he sustained a muscle problem. Kevin De Bruyne is City’s other big-name absentee, and while he was named in their squad for the Club World Cup, he is not expected to return until the end of December at the earliest.
Palace, meanwhile, have something of an injury crisis on their hands. While Ayew will serve a one-match ban, Cheick Doucoure, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Rob Holding, Dean Henderson and Eberechi Eze are sidelined, while Sam Johnstone, Odsonne Edouard and Jefferson Lerma are doubtful after being withdrawn with knocks against Liverpool.
This is what Pep Guardiola had to say when asked if Erling Haaland will feature against Crystal Palace tomorrow…
“I don’t think so, but maybe surprisingly they’ll tell me something new” pic.twitter.com/tj3jv3KCoe
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 15, 2023
Expected line-ups
Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Stones, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Silva, Foden, Grealish; Alvarez.
Crystal Palace: Matthews; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Hughes, Richards, Schlupp; Olise, Mateta, Franca.
What they said
Guardiola on Palace’s track record of causing City problems:
“It has always been a tough game. How they defend is brilliant, from set-pieces they are dangerous. It’s a tough game, it always has been since I’ve been here. It’s never easy against Roy Hodgson.”
On Hodgson’s long managerial career:
“It’s absolutely phenomenal, to have the fire and the passion inside to still be there, and his teams are very good.
“They played incredibly well against Liverpool, and were unfortunate to have a player sent off – 10 against 11 against Liverpool is almost impossible, 11 versus 11, I don’t know what would have happened.”
When and how to watch
Saturday’s game will kick off at the traditional local time of 15:00 at the Etihad, and won’t be screened live in the United Kingdom.
Prediction
Palace have taken just five points from their last nine Premier League games, with only Burnley (four) collecting fewer during that time. They have enjoyed success at the Etihad in the past, winning there in December 2018 and October 2021, but they look unlikely to cause City too many problems this time around.
Even with Haaland likely to miss out, expect a comfortable win for the champions with Alvarez, Silva and Grealish starring as they sign off for the Club World Cup in style.
Pep Guardiola knew it wasn’t handball! 😅 pic.twitter.com/5oUHtZm8lM
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 13, 2023
