Crystal Palace vs Manchester City: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Manchester City should be the favourites for this game against a Crystal Palace side, who have failed to impress this season.

Despite Palace remaining unbeaten in their previous three, Manchester City's recent win over Nottingham Forest should provide enough confidence for a Pep Guardiola side who were previously winless in their last seven. Crystal Palace have only won once at home all season, conceding eight goals in seven games.

In this fixture, Manchester City are unbeaten in the last five meetings between the two sides, with Crystal Palace failing to keep a clean sheet in the las four between the two sides. Crystal Palace could take advantage of Manchester City's recent defensive woes, with the Eagles scoring first in five of their previous seven in all competitions. Expect goals in this fixture, as over 2.5 goals have been scored in seven of the last eight involving Manchester City.

Expect Manchester City to win here. Pep Guardiola’s side hopes to capitalise on any mishaps their rivals may present themselves with over the weekend.

Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester City

Manchester City hopes to use the momentum from their win over Nottingham Forest as they travel to face Crystal Palace's side, which recently beat Ipswich Town.

Date: 07/12/2024
Location: Selhurst Park, London.
Kick-Off: 3 pm

Crystal Palace can breathe ever so slightly following recent results during the week as the Eagles took advantage of the games involved. The Eagles recorded a win over Ipswich Town during the week to move themselves three points out of the relegation zone, leaving them with 12 points from 14 games. The hosts are now 17th in the Premier League, with only two wins, six draws and six losses - averaging 0.86 points per game.

Oliver Glasner will be desperate for things to improve and hopes the recent win over Ipswich Town will provide some confidence as they host Manchester City. The scorer for the Eagles in midweek was Jean-Phillipe Mateta, who provided the game's only goal. The Frenchman will be key for Crystal Palace, as he leads the scoring charts for the Eagles with four goals.

In recent weeks, Manchester City’s recent form has raised serious questions about the state and condition of this Manchester City side, with Kyle Walker coming under criticism for the teams’ sub-par performances. The win over Nottingham Forest would have brought much relief for Pep Guardiola, as his side now face the task of chasing down Liverpool with a sizeable points differential. However, they achieved this before in the 2018/19 season, where Manchester City clawed back a seven-point deficit at Christmas.

The game will not be available for viewing in the UK.

Adam Wharton and Matheus Franca should both be unavailable for the Eagles.

Nathan Ake was taken off in their previous game against Nottingham Forest, with John Stones and Mateo Kovacic still unavailable for Pep Guardiola’s side.

The recent history between the two teams suggests that the current Premier League champions, Manchester City, are the favourites for this encounter. Manchester City have not lost in the last five meetings between the two teams and have won 14 of the previous 20 meetings, with Crystal Palace only winning twice. The hosts are also without a clean sheet in the last four meetings between the two teams. The Eagles last beat Manchester City in 2021, where goals from Wilfred Zaha and Conor Gallagher secured a 2-0 win at the Etihad for Crystal Palace. Manchester City have an impressive record at Selhurst Park, having not lost there since 1995.

Crystal Palace are heading into this game having only lost in their previous five, although the Eagles have only won once and drawn three in that run of five. The Eagles have only averaged 1.2 points per game over the last five, scoring at least once in each of those previous five. On the goalscoring front, Crystal Palace have been efficient in scoring first in five of their last seven. At home, they do need to improve their scoring rate, as Oliver Glasner’s side have averaged 0.57 goals per game.

Their home form would also need improvement in general, as the hosts have only won once on home soil this season, in their first win of the season against Tottenham Hotspur. The Eagles have only won once in their last five at Selhurst Park, averaging 0.86 points per game. Daniel Munoz was the saviour in their most recent home game as he reduced a dramatic point in injury time against Newcastle United. The last league game for the Eagles provided a vital win over Ipswich Town thanks to a goal from Jean-Phillippe Mateta.

As for Manchester City, the win over Nottingham Forest brought great relief to Pep Guardiola, as his side were previously winless in their last seven, having lost six in that run. Now the burden of chasing their first win in recent weeks has been lifted, and you can expect Manchester City to improve on that recent form shown previously. Before that dismal run of form, Manchester City had won their previous five in succession in all competitions.

Away from home this season, Manchester City’s form will have to improve if they are to catch up to Liverpool at the top of the league. The Citizens have lost their previous three away games in the league, including that potentially season-defining loss to Liverpool at Anfield. Manchester City have averaged only 1.43 points per game away from this season, with their previous away win in the league coming against Wolves in October, thanks to a 95th-minute winner from John Stones.

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