Manchester City to potentially inch closer to top of the table with win versus Crystal Palace

Manchester City vs Crystal Palace - 17/01/2021

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Manchester City overcame their poor start to the Premier League and are now sportsbooks’ favourite to claim the Premier League title.

With Liverpool and Manchester United playing just hours prior to Manchester City’s kick off with Crystal Palace, it is Pep Guardiola’s team that could be the big winners this weekend.

A victory against Crystal Palace and Manchester United loss to Liverpool would put the Cityzens just one point back of first place. They also have a game in hand.

Getting a win versus Crystal Palace may be more difficult than expected. The Eagles are unbeaten against Manchester City in their last two matches at the Etihad Stadium. Last season, Roy Hodgson’s team managed a 2-2 draw and the season prior, a 3-2 win.

Manchester City are not scoring goals in the numbers seen in previous seasons. They have scored 25 times which is just the ninth most in the league. Guardiola’s team are winning with defence. They have allowed just 13 goals against, the fewest in the division.

Guardiola is without Sergio Aguero for the match on Sunday. Aguero is self-isolating after coming in contact with someone that tested positive for COVID-19. Eric Garcia and Nathan Ake are both ruled out.

Garcia tested positive for COVID-19 and Ake has a muscle strain. Centre-back Aymeric Laporte is a doubt due to a thigh injury.

Hodgson has six players ruled out for the match. Nathan Ferguson, Wayne Hennessey, Connor Wickham, Mamadou Sakho, Jeffrey Schlupp and Martin Kelly are all ruled out of the match. In spite of all the injuries, Crystal Palace have still racked up points.

In midweek, Crystal Palace drew nil-nil with Arsenal at the Emirates. They have shown themselves capable of taking points off of the traditional big clubs. The Eagles went to Old Trafford earlier this season and won versus Manchester United.

Manchester City are on a two-match winning streak at home. They have taken 17 points from 24 possible at the Etihad Stadium, which is the league’s second most. Their only loss came in a shocker versus Leicester City, 5-2.

Crystal Palace are winless in three straight road games taking two points from nine possible. Eleven points from 27 have been taken by the Eagles on their travels.

Goals have been a problem for Hodgson’s team on the road with just 11 scored in nine games. Expect Manchester City’s defence to hold them in check and get the goals needed to win. Manchester City should win to nil with under 2.5 goals scored.

Home team
Away team

Probability %

1X2

Pred

Correct score

Avg. goals

Weather conditions

Coef.

Score

Live
coef.

EPL

Manchester City Crystal Palace 17/01/2021 20:15

592515

1

2 - 0

2.33

5°

1.18

1.18 8.30 18.50 1 -1 -1

FT

4 - 0(1 - 0)

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