Palace v Manchester City

Selhurst Park, Sunday 4.10pm

Kagisho Dikgacoi

Story so far

Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars at fantasy.premierleague.com or with FIFA Ultimate Team for FIFA 14.

Crystal Palace will be looking to continue their recent run of good form when they entertain title contenders Manchester City at Selhurst Park this Sunday.

After a poor start to the season the Eagles looked a certainty to be relegated at the turn of the year, but a turnaround in form has seen them win their last 5 Premier League matches & they now find themselves in 11th place with 43 points.

Jason Puncheon is likely to be Palace’s biggest goal threat when the sides meet on Sunday. Puncheon is currently the Eagles top scorer with seven goals in 31 appearances and 888sport.com are offering odds of 9/2 that he will find the net again this weekend.

Yannick Bolasie also impressed against West Ham last weekend making 6 attacking contributions (shots on target, assists, dribbles and crosses) including four dribbles and one cross. The 24 year old has made 26 appearances for Palace this season and his contributions last weekend gave him a season total of 114.

Damien Delaney has statistically been Palace’s strongest defender so far this season. Tony Pulis will be hoping that his form will continue when Palace try to stop the free scoring City attack on Sunday.

Delaney has made an outstanding 487 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, interceptions and blocks) for his side this season including 77 interceptions and 318 clearances. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that the 32 year old has also won 75% of the tackles he has attempted.

Manchester City’s pursuit of the Premier League title continues this Sunday when they travel to in-form Crystal Palace. City kept their title hopes alive this week with a 3-1 win over West Brom on Monday.

The Blues sit just six points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand, with just four games to play. Anything but a win this weekend may all but end City’s hopes of a 2nd Premier League title in three seasons.

With current top scorer Yaya Touré possibly missing through injury Sergio Agüero is likely to be City’s biggest goal threat on Sunday.

The Argentinian, who scored in Monday’s victory over West Brom, has scored 16 goals in 20 appearances so far this season, and according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index Agüero has hit the target with 60% of his 63 efforts at goal.

Despite not having one of his best games on Monday night Samir Nasri is still likely to be a major attacking threat for City this weekend. The Frenchman has made 91 attacking contributions (shots on target, assists, dribbles and crosses) so far this season chipping in with 6 goals and 7 assists in the process.

Nasri is the Blues third highest scoring midfielder this season and 888sport.com are offering an industry best 5/2 that he will add to his tally this weekend.

Captain Vincent Kompany is likely to be at the heart of the City defence on Sunday after another solid display against West Brom.

Kompany made 11 defensive contributions (tackles won, clearances, interceptions and blocks) on Monday night, adding to the 248 he has made this season. Kompany has also won an impressive 70% of the tackles he has attempted this season.

Team news

Crystal Palace duo Marouane Chamakh and Kagisho Dikgacoi have picked up knocks and are a doubt for the visit of Manchester City. If both sit the game out, then Joe Ledley could move back into the defensive midfield slot with Tom Ince starting just behind Cameron Jerome.

Manchester City's David Silva and Jesus Navas will both miss out due to ankle injuries, but Yaya Toure should make a return to the line-up after recovering from a muscle strain. Defender Matija Nastasic is sidelined with a knee injury.

Palace: Speroni, Hennessey, Ward, Delaney, Mariappa, Parr, Dann, McCarthy, O'Keefe, Puncheon, Dikgacoi, Ledley, Jedinak, Ince, Bolasie, Chamakh, Jerome, Murray, Gayle.

Manchester City: Hart, Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Richards, Kompany, Demichelis, Lescott, Toure, Boyata, Clichy, Kolarov, Milner, Nasri, Silva, Garcia, Fernandinho, Rodwell, Aguero, Negredo, Dzeko, Jovetic.

Manchester City - league stats

Full league table

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
28/12/2013	League	Manchester City	1 - 0	Crystal Palace
27/08/2009	League Cup	Crystal Palace	0 - 2	Manchester City
15/01/2005	League	Manchester City	3 - 1	Crystal Palace
18/09/2004	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 2	Manchester City
16/03/2002	League	Manchester City	1 - 0	Crystal Palace

All time results

Last meeting

Manchester City 1-0 Palace

Saturday December 28 2013

Manchester City: Hart, Boyata (Negredo, 55), Clichy, Fernandinho (Nasri, 55), Kompany, Nastasic, Navas, Garcia, Dzeko, Silva, Milner (Kolarov, 75)

Subs not used: Pantilimon, Lescott, Rodwell, Toure

Goals: Dzeko (66)

Bookings: Silva

Palace: Speroni, Mariappa, Parr, Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney, Puncheon, Jedinak, Jerome (Chamakh, 35), Bannan (Gayle, 81), Bolasie (Williams, 76)

Subs not used: Price, Campana, Phillips, Moxey

Bookings: Delaney

Prediction league

0 members have predicted for this game so far.

Make your prediction on this game

Selhurst pub guide

Click here