Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
Manchester City continue to grapple with injury problems, particularly concerning their defensive players. While this hasn’t significantly impacted their attack, it could certainly affect the strength of their backline.
Crystal Palace
Moreover, Crystal Palace welcome back attacking midfielder Daichi Kamada following a three-match suspension, whose absence was keenly felt upfront. Despite this, the London side managed a degree of success without him: they remained unbeaten and scored in every match. Given that they still rank lowest in total goals scored (12), this is a notable achievement. They even secured a win away at Ipswich Town. Crystal Palace have no other significant absences to report.
Manchester City
Manchester City are still plagued by an injury epidemic. The same players keep dropping, seemingly rushed back into the squad out of necessity, even in such a large club. After seven winless matches, they finally bagged the much-needed three points against Nottingham Forest (3:0), a team generally known for a robust defence. However, Nathan Aké, Manuel Akanji, and possibly John Stones are unlikely to feature in the next fixture.
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City Prediction
This presents an opportunity for Crystal Palace, although their poor finishing (−10.32 xG Diff) makes this a tough sell. Yet, the last two meetings between these sides suggest it’s possible (2:2, 2:4). We’re opting for a total over. If the hosts can't manage it, the visitors certainly will.
