Manchester City vs Crystal Palace
Date: 22/12/2018
K/O: 15:00
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Referee: Andre Marriner
Manchester City and Crystal Palace face off at the Etihad on Saturday with both managers set to rotate their starting XIs ahead of the festive period.
The Eagles have enjoyed an extra four days rest than their opponents, following City’s penalty-shootout victory over Leicester in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night. Like the Citizens, Palace’s last game was also against Leicester and they will hope a largely similar lineup can cause a shock at the home of the Champions.
City have no fresh injury concerns and could play Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne after both players returned from injury on Wednesday at the King Power. The latter scored a sensational goal to open the scoring against the Foxes yet after getting 70 minutes under his belt, Pep may not want to risk him from the start against the Eagles. As for Aguero, his strike partner, Gabriel Jesus, is high on confidence after last weeks brace against Everton and may be preferred from the off to lead the line.
Ederson will continue in goal, behind an expected back four of Kyle Walker, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Fabian Delph, with Nicolas Otamendi the victim of Guardiola’s festive rotation policy. Vincent Kompany remains doubtful and if not passed fit, his place on the bench will be taken by 17-year-old Eric Garcia, who impressed in his first City start on Wednesday.
In midfield, David Silva continues his recovery from a hamstring problem, with Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva set to occupy the three roles in the middle. Kevin De Bruyne is fit, but will be eased back up to speed and will likely feature from the bench if needed.
With Sergio Aguero unlikely to be risked from the start, Gabriel Jesus will continue in the middle of the front three, hoping to continue the momentum gained from his brace against Everton last week. Neither Raheem Sterling or Leroy Sane started on Wednesday and with the former only playing 20 minutes, they will both likely start on Saturday.
Crystal Palace are set to field a full-strength lineup at the Etihad but will have to wait on the fitness of goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate, who are both currently doubtful.
Even if Hennessey is passed fit, Roy Hodgson may choose to stick with Vicente Guaita following the Spaniard’s clean sheet last week, with veteran Julian Speroni also available. The Eagles have no injury concerns in defence and will likely recall James Tomkins in place of Martin Kelly. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Mamadou Sakho and Patrick van Aanholt should complete the back four.
If Kouyate fails in his race to be fit, Jason Puncheon or Jeffrey Schlupp will come into an otherwise unchanged midfield, alongside James McArthur, Luka Milivojevic and Max Meyer. Andros Townsend will continue in attack alongside Wilfred Zaha; the former Manchester United man is available again after missing the victory over Leicester through suspension.
Palace have failed to score against City in their last four attempts, and have not scored a league goal away at the Citizens since 2005. In the five Premier League clashes between the sides since Man City are winning by an aggregate score of 18-0.
Predicted Starting XIs
Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Delph; B. Silva, Fernandinho, Gundogan; Sterling, Jesus, Sane
Crystal Palace (4-4-2): Hennessey; Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt; McArthur, Kouyate, Milivojevic, Meyer; Townsend, Zaha
Score Prediction: Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace
On the basis of performances already this season, City are expected to cruise to victory over the Eagles and they should do just that.
