Palace v Manchester City

Selhurst Park, Saturday 3.00pm

Wayne Hennessey

Story so far

Oh dear, things are looking pretty gloomy right now and I'm fearful it's going to get a lot worse. Palace have sunk to four successive league defeats and it looks increasingly likely to be a fifth when City come to town.

The Eagles have shipped 10 goals in the last three outings, and with boss Alan Pardew adamant that this swashbuckling brand of football will continue, then it looks like it'll be more of the same on Saturday.

Goal-machine Sergio Aguero has been a favourite in many people's fantasy league teams this campaign. He's scored the opening goal of a game more times than anyone else in the top division this season and I'd back him to score first again here, at 11/4 with bet365.

Palace have lost seven of their last eight Premier League games against City and this season the red 'n' blues have gone 16 league fixtures without a clean sheet. It all points to a City victory – but let's be positive!

A draw at 18/5 with betVictor is definitely worth a punt.

However, I’ll be throwing my cash on over 4.5 goals at 7/2 with Paddy Power.

Team news

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Steve Mandanda is sidelined for a couple of weeks with a knee injury. Wales international stopper Wayne Hennessey will don the gloves in his place.

Palace will check on the fitness of midfielder Joe Ledley, while Lee Chung-yong should be available despite having a minor knock. Loic Remy (thigh), Pape Souare (broken leg) and Jonathan Benteke (knee) all remain out.

Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany and right-back Bacary Sagna could return (hamstring)but midfielder Fabian Delph (groin) is still missing.

Palace (from): Hennessey, Speroni, Ward, Dann, Tomkins, Delaney, Kelly, Fryers, Flamini, Mutch, Lee, McArthur, Ledley, Cabaye, Puncheon, Zaha, Townsend, Sako, C Benteke, Wickham, Campbell.

City (from): Bravo, Caballero, Zabaleta, Sagna, Maffeo, Otamendi, Stones, Kompany, Kolarov, Clichy, Fernando, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Toure, Sane, Navas, De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling, Nolito, Garcia, Aguero, Iheanacho.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"I'm not even thinking we're in a relegation battle at all, if I'm honest. We have to get some results in the next few weeks. Back-to-back wins will take you into mid-table. A long way to go yet. It's about getting the balance in the style of play.

"I look at the group and there are fantastic players in our team. We're in a false position when I look at the league table, but we have to put that right.

"It was a productive meeting in New York with the owners, talking about the stadium – which we know we have issues with – and the academy, which we need to improve.

"And we had a bit of debate on the transfer window. Players for the window who will improve us. We talked about everything you'd expect owners to talk about in that situation.

"They're tremendously supportive. They have two franchises in America which Steve and I look at, and share a few ideas. That's a real benefit for us."

Pep Guardiola

"Benteke in the box is unstoppable. They play a lot with Benteke, second balls with all the wingers, with Townsend and Zaha. They are fast and good one against one and they cross a lot. [Midfielder Yohan] Cabaye is an exceptional player so it will be a tough game.

"When I see a team I never look at the position of the table. I try to analyse what they do and especially when they play good.

"Maybe they make the best performance ever and maybe not so this kind of thing does not depend upon which position they are in now. But we want to stay with the big teams in the Premier League so we have to win."

Manchester City - league stats

Full league table

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
16/01/2016	League	Manchester City	4 - 0	Crystal Palace
28/10/2015	League Cup	Manchester City	5 - 1	Crystal Palace
12/09/2015	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 1	Manchester City
06/04/2015	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 1	Manchester City
20/12/2014	League	Manchester City	3 - 0	Crystal Palace

All time results

Last meeting

Manchester City 4-0 Palace

Saturday January 16 2016

Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Demichelis, Kolarov (Clichy, 52), Fernando, De Bruyne, Delph, Silva, Agüero (Navas, 85), Iheanacho (Touré, 57)

Subs not used: Sagna, Sterling, Caballero, Humphreys-Grant

Goals: Delph 22, Aguero 41, Aguero 69, Silva 84

Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare, Ledley, Cabaye, McArthur (Mutch, 80), Puncheon, Zaha (Lee, 85), Wickham (Chamakh, 66)

Subs not used: Speroni, Kelly, Campbell, Jedinak

Bookings: Chamakh, Cabaye

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