Manchester City eyeing four-game winning run in Palace trip.
Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City begins at 14:00 [GMT] on Sunday, December 14, at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles head back for Premier League duties after a 3-0 win over Shelbourne in the Europa Conference League. Back on the domestic front, Crystal Palace’s resurgence under Oliver Glasner faces its sternest test yet as they welcome Manchester City to Selhurst Park in a fixture that has historically tilted heavily in City’s favour. Palace have not beaten City at home since 2015, a run stretching 10 Premier League meetings, and although they’ve caused the champions problems on occasion, turning performances into points has proved elusive. Recent encounters between the sides have been unexpectedly wild, with both teams scoring at least twice in each of the last four league meetings. Those matches produced two thrilling 2-2 draws and high-scoring City wins of 4-2 and 5-2. Not since the late 1950s has a top-flight fixture seen such a prolonged run of mutual scoring. Palace have even made a habit of starting fast against City, scoring inside the opening 10 minutes in four of their last six clashes. Yet early breakthroughs haven’t altered outcomes, with Palace failing to win any of those matches. This season, however, Palace look a very different proposition. Their haul of 26 points from 15 games marks their best ever Premier League start — double their tally at this stage last year. They will be looking to cause the Sky Blues more problems ON Sunday when both sides meet. A 4—2—3—1 formation with Mateta in attack is expected against Pep Guardiola’s side.
Manchester City [WLWWW] arrive in excellent scoring form, following a 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. They have won their last three Premier League games while netting at least three goals each time. Pep Guardiola’s side remain the league’s most prolific, with 35 goals and the highest expected-goals total. Following last weekend’s 3-0 win over Sunderland, and similar recent results, a fourth straight three-goal victory would also give Guardiola his 150th such win in the Premier League, placing him alongside Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger in a rare managerial bracket. The city’s overall record against Palace—just two defeats in their last 20 league meetings—highlights the scale of the challenge facing the hosts. If Palace can harness their intensity and early-goal habit while avoiding the defensive lapses that City punish mercilessly, this could be another unexpectedly open contest. Erling Haaland is expected at the attacking end of City’s 4—2—3—1 formation. Rodri remains ruled out due to injury.