Premier League | Gameweek 15

Dec 7, 2024 at 3pm UK

Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace vs.Man City

Match preview

Crystal Palace have only lost once across their last six matches since losing three games in a row between 28 September and 21 October. They've picked up nine points in the process, which is great news for their survival hopes.

The Eagles extended their unbeaten run to three matches when they secured a narrow 1-0 victory away against Ipswich Town on Tuesday night. A second-half goal from Jean-Philippe Mateta was enough to secure just their second top-flight win of the campaign and their first away from home.

Even though Palace didn't play their best, manager Oliver Glasner says they're on the right track. He's urging his players not to "sit back and relax" during a busy schedule over the festive period.

With Palace sitting 17th in the table and just three points above the relegation zone, they'll be keen to improve their home form. They've only won one of their seven Premier League games at Selhurst Park this term, after winning five of their first seven under Glasner at the end of last season.

However, success on Saturday might be tricky as the Eagles have only won two of their last 18 Premier League meetings with Man City (D4 L12). Both of those victories were at the Etihad Stadium in December 2018 and October 2020.

Man City were in a bad way after losing six out of seven games across all competitions, conceding 19 goals in the process. However, Pep Guardiola's side ended their losing streak with a 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, which was a welcome boost for morale.

Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku scored for the Citizens, who picked up maximum points for the first time since October. The reigning champions also kept just their third clean sheet of the campaign.

After letting in three goals in the last 15 minutes against Feyenoord in the Champions League just over a week ago, Guardiola said that his team "weren't truly relaxed until the final whistle" against Forest. He was happy to see the Citizens "break this routine of not winning games", though.

As it stands, Man City are currently placed fourth in the Premier League table. Despite suggestions that their title bid is now over, their midweek win over Forest has helped them gain two points on leaders Liverpool, who are now nine points ahead of Guardiola's side after drawing 3-3 with Newcastle United on Wednesday.

Man City head into Saturday's game having lost each of their last five away games in all competitions. They last lost six in a row back in February 1994, while the last reigning top-flight champions to lose six away matches in a row were Man City themselves during the 1968-69 campaign.

The Citizens can be confident of success against Crystal Palace, though, as they've won seven of their last nine Premier League away games against the Eagles. This includes the 4-2 win at Selhurst Park last April.

Recent Performance

Crystal Palace Premier League form:WDLDDW

Crystal Palace form (all competitions):WDLDDW

Manchester City Premier League form:WLLLLW

Manchester City form (all competitions):LLLDLW

Team News

Crystal Palace trio (Chadi Riad, Adam Wharton and Matheus Franca) are still out with injuries. However, there's a chance they'll be back at some point this month.

Cheick Doucouré is good to go after Glasner said his half-time substitution against Ipswich was because of a booking, not an injury. The Mali international will be competing with Jefferson Lerma and Will Hughes for a place in midfield.

Daichi Kamada is back in the squad after serving a three-match suspension. He could also play in midfield or support Mateta and Eberechi Eze up front.

In other news, Nathan Ake picked up a hamstring injury in the closing stages of Man City's midweek win over Forest. He'll be joining Rodri (ACL), Oscar Bobb (leg fracture), Mateo Kovacic (unspecified) and John Stones (foot) in the treatment room.

We'll be checking on Manuel Akanji before the game to see how he's doing after he was taken out at half-time against Forest with an unspecified problem. Phil Foden might also be a doubt after missing the midweek win due to bronchitis.

If Ake and Akanji are out, Gvardiol might move back to centre-back or 19-year-old Simpson-Pusey could start with Dias, with Walker and Lewis at full-back.

Guardiola will decide whether to give De Bruyne his second start in four days, alongside midfielders Ilkay Gündoğan and Jack Grealish. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Stefan Ortega could start for the third game in a row, replacing Ederson.

Possible starting lineup

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:

Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Doucoure, Lerma, Mitchell; Eze; Nketiah, Mateta

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ortega; Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis; De Bruyne, Gundogan, Grealish; Savinho, Haaland, Doku