Manchester City have a title race on their hands. After four Premier League games without a victory, Pep Guardiola’s men did what champions do last Sunday, fighting back for a 2-1 win over Luton Town to remain within touching distance of Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa.
However, with City likely to lose ground next week when they head to Saudi Arabia for the FIFA Club World Cup, three points is a must here, as they face Crystal Palace in their final league game before Christmas.
Palace have sometimes been awkward opponents for City in recent years, with only Manchester United (three) winning more Premier League away games against the Citizens than Palace (two) since Guardiola’s 2016 appointment.
However, the Eagles approach Saturday’s contest winless in five Premier League matches, losing four of those to leave Roy Hodgson under pressure.
Head-To-Head Summary:
City have lost just two of their last 16 Premier League games against Palace (W11, D3), though both of those defeats – in December 2018 and October 2021 – came at the Etihad Stadium.
Palace threatened another shock victory in this exact fixture last August, going 2-0 up before half-time as Joachim Andersen netted after John Stones’ own goal, only for City to roar back for a 4-2 win, helped by a Haaland hat-trick.
