Manchester City vs Crystal Palace 22/12/18

22 December 2018

After barely managed to eliminate Leicester City in the EFL Cup in midweek, Manchester City will welcome an unpredictable Crystal Palace side to the Etihad Stadium looking to extend an eight-game lossless streak against the visitors.

The reigning holders are the only team in the Premier League to secure a maximum of 27 points after nine matches at home, and they’ve managed it in some style. The Citizens’ tally of 33 goals scored at home is the best goalscoring record in the English top flight, as they’ve scored an average of 3.67 goals per match so far. Furthermore, Pep Guardiola’s men have notched a minimum of three goals per match in their last five home outings in the Premier League, while conceding precisely one goal per game four times in the process. Still, only Liverpool (2) have allowed fewer goals at home than Man City (6) this season, as Ederson is yet to concede more than one goal per match at Etihad this term.

On the other hand, it will be a daunting prospect for Crystal Palace to avoid defeat against Man City on the road, considering they’ve lost nine consecutive matches against the Citizens in Manchester. Thanks to two wins in their previous four Premier League clashes, the Glaziers have escaped the relegation zone, but Roy Hodgson can’t figure it out how to collect points away from home. Winless in their last seven competitive road matches, the Eagles have suffered six defeats, conceding a minimum of two goals per match five times in the process. Even more, Crystal Palace have struggled to score more than one goal per match nine times on their last 11 road trips in all competitions, which puts them among the worst attacking teams in the English top flight.

Provisional line-up – Manchester City:

Gk: Ederson Defense: Delph – Otamendi – Laporte – Walker Midfield: Fernandinho – Gundogan – Bernardo Silva Attack: Sane – Gabriel Jesus – Mahrez

Provisional line-up – Crystal Palace:

Gk: Guaita Defense: Patrick van Aanholt – Martin Kelly – Sakho – Wan-Bissaka Midfield: Kouyate – McArthur – Milivojevic Attack: Max Meyer – Townsend – Jordan Ayew