After negotiating a tricky trip to Belgrade in Serbia to beat Red Star Belgrade 3-2 in the Champions League in midweek, Manchester City return to Premier League action on Saturday by hosting Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola's side grabbed an important win last time out against Luton Town in this competition, narrowly beating the top-flight minnows 2-1 at Kenilworth Road in a performance that still wasn't fully up to scratch from City.
The reigning champions have proved much stronger on home soil this campaign, though, going unbeaten across their seven matches at this venue as they look to gain ground once again on Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa this weekend.
BET: Manchester City vs. Crystal Palace latest odds on DraftKings
As for visiting Palace, they slumped to a late 2-1 defeat at Selhurst Park to Liverpool last time out as the pressure begins to grow on manager Roy Hodgson. The Eagles are now winless across their past five outings, a streak that has seen them lose to fellow relegation candidates Luton, Everton and Bournemouth as they begin to peer nervously towards the bottom of the table.
The Sporting News previews the game below with our prediction and best bets.
MORE: English Premier League table 2023/24: Updated EPL standings
Man City vs Crystal Palace match facts
- Date: Saturday, December 16, 2023
- Kickoff time: 3:00 p.m. local (10:00 a.m. ET / 7:00 a.m. PT)
- Location: Etihad Stadium (Manchester, England)
- Last meeting: Crystal Palace 0-1 Man City (March 11, 2023 | Premier League)
Man City vs Crystal Palace prediction, odds
- Moneyline lean: Man City (-575)
- Score prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Crystal Palace
| MCY win | Draw | CRY win | Both teams to score Y / N | Over / Under 2.5 goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings (USA) | -575 | +700 | +1400 | +130 / -165 | -225 / +170 |
Man City vs Crystal Palace best bet
- Pick: Both teams to score — YES
- Odds: +130 (DraftKings)
In the Premier League of late, Manchester City have really struggled for clean sheets: they've kept just two across their past 10 English top-flight outings.
That allowed Luton to take the lead last time out in this competition at Kenilworth Road when facing City and given that, on paper at least, Crystal Palace have a stronger squad especially in an attacking sense, backing both teams to score seems a sensible play.
Considering Guardiola's side have scored at least once in each of their past 40 home Premier League outings, they're a sure bet to manage that again here, even if the last team to keep a clean sheet here in the league were Palace themselves during a 2-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium back in October 2021.
Man City vs Crystal Palace flier bet
- Pick: Phil Foden to score first
- Odds: +450 (DraftKings)
Over recent months, Manchester City's Phil Foden has improved his performances and in the potential absence of star striker Erling Haaland, we're backing the young English midfielder to open the scoring in this one.
This campaign, Foden has struck seven goals across his 23 competitive appearances, with four of those coming across 16 Premier League outings.
Of those four league goals, three have come at the Etihad whilst one came in his side's last league match at this venue against Tottenham. Overall, two of his goals this season have also served as match-opening strikes, something which we fancy him to manage again here.
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