Crystal Palace will host Manchester City at Selhurst Park on Sunday, looking to continue their impressive run of form and halt the away side’s title charge.

Crystal Palace have picked up three wins in as many matches across all competitions, and they will be confident heading into this game vs Manchester City this weekend.

On the other hand, Manchester City are coming into this game on the back of four consecutive victories as well. Pep Guardiola’s men managed to beat Real Madrid in their last outing, and they will be confident of getting the job done here.

Manchester City are certainly one of the best teams in the country, and they are currently second in the league table. However, they will have to be at their best to get the better of Crystal Palace, as Oliver Glasner’s charges have done quite well this season, and they are fourth in the table.

Manchester City cannot afford to underestimate the opposition this week. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Crystal Palace

Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad have been ruled out due to their long-term knee injuries. Daniel Munoz has had surgery on a knee problem and is facing months out. Meanwhile, Ismaila Sarr (hamstring) remains in the treatment room.

Oliver Glasner has also been sweating over the fitness of Jean-Philippe Mateta (knee) and Jaydee Canvot (illness). However, the duo should be fit and available to take on Manchester City this weekend.

Crystal Palace will shape up in a 3-4-2-1 formation vs Manchester City, with Dean Henderson taking his spot in goal. In the back three, Marc Guehi will start alongside Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards.

Nathaniel Clyne and Tyrick Mitchell will feature as the wing-backs. They will look to protect the central defenders and hit the opposition on the break. As for the midfield unit, Will Hughes and Adam Wharton will add defensive cover and control in the middle of the park.

Daichi Kamada and Yeremy Pino will start as the attacking midfielders, and they will look to create opportunities for their teammates. Finally, Jean-Philippe Mateta will lead the line for Crystal Palace vs Manchester City this weekend.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Guehi, Lacroix, Richards; Clyne, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell; Kamada, Pino; Mateta

Manchester City

Rodri misses out with a hamstring injury, and Mateo Kovacic has an ankle problem. Additionally, John Stones is struggling with a muscular problem with his thigh, and he faces a late fitness test to determine their availability.

Manchester City will shape up in their usual 4-1-4-1 formation vs Crystal Palace, with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal. Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly will start as the full-backs. They will keep things tight at the back and help out in the final third. Ruben Dias will start alongside Josko Gvardiol at the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Nico Gonzalez will start in the middle of the park, and he will look to control the tempo of the game from the deep. Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden will start as advanced playmakers, and they will add creativity to the side.

Savinho and Jeremy Doku will add pace, flair and goals from the flanks, with Erling Haaland spearheading the Manchester City attack vs Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Gonzalez; Doku, Reijnders, Foden, Savinho; Haaland

Key Stats

• Manchester City have scored at least three goals in five of their last six matches in the Premier League.
• Manchester City have been winning at both half-time and full-time in five of their last six matches in the Premier League.
• Crystal Palace are on a three-match winning run in all competitions.
• Manchester City are on a four-match winning run in all competitions.
• 23 goals have been scored in the last six matches between the two teams.

Player to Watch

Erling Haaland

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The Norwegian striker is in spectacular form, and he is our key player to watch out for. He will look to find the back of the net and continue his impressive goalscoring run. He will also look to help create opportunities for his teammates in the final third.

Crystal Palace have done well defensively, but they will have their work cut out against the Manchester City striker. It will be interesting to see if they can nullify the threat from Haaland. He could make a big difference in the final third for Manchester City. So, it is no wonder that he is a captaincy candidate in FPL for Gameweek 16.

Prediction

Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester City

Both teams will look to pick up a win here, and this is likely to be a cracking contest. Crystal Palace and Manchester City are in impressive form, and they will fancy their chances against each other. The two sides are likely to get on the score sheet, and it will be difficult to separate them.

However, Manchester City have more quality in the final third, and they should be able to edge this one. A narrow victory is on the cards for the away team. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Pep Guardiola and his charges.