Crystal Palace are gearing up to face Manchester City, aiming to replicate the determination they showed in May's FA Cup final. In that match, Eberechi Eze's goal secured a 1-0 victory at Wembley, marking Palace's first major trophy win. Dean Henderson also played a crucial role by saving a penalty from Omar Marmoush. As they prepare for Sunday's game, Oliver Glasner emphasises the need for similar grit.
Palace recently triumphed 3-0 over Shelbourne in the Conference League and have won their last two Premier League games against Burnley and Fulham. However, their last home match ended in a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on November 30. Glasner acknowledges the need for more intensity than they displayed in that game. "To be honest, there's
always great energy in our stadium at Selhurst," Glasner stated.
Glasner is optimistic about the support from fans at Selhurst Park, where Palace had an impressive unbeaten run until their recent loss to United. He believes this atmosphere can help them start another streak. "Of course, when you play City, we will need a top performance to get the win," he said. The manager is confident that with fan support, they can challenge City effectively.
Palace currently sit fourth in the Premier League table with 26 points, while City are second with 31 points, trailing leaders Arsenal by just two points. Pep Guardiola missed Friday's pre-match press conference due to personal reasons but will be present for the game. Kolo Toure expressed confidence in City's title chances: "We have the best manager in the world who is doing an incredible job every day. "
For Crystal Palace, Eddie Nketiah might be crucial if Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr remain doubtful due to injuries. Nketiah has scored 21 of his 24 Premier League goals in London, holding the highest percentage of any player with at least 20 goals in the competition's history. Meanwhile, Rayan Cherki stands out for Manchester City.
Cherki leads the league in creating big chances per 90 minutes (1.6) and expected assists per 90 (0.55 xA). He has assisted a goal every 80 minutes this season, achieving the best-ever ratio by any player in a Premier League campaign.
Manchester City's Recent Form
City have been dominant at Selhurst Park historically, losing only twice in their last 20 league meetings with Palace (13 wins, five draws). Their last three Premier League matches have seen them score at least three goals each time. Guardiola could become the third manager to achieve 150 Premier League wins with teams scoring three or more goals.
City lead this season's scoring charts with 35 goals and top expected goals (30.0 xG). They rank third for overperformance on xG (five goals), behind Tottenham and Aston Villa. Both teams have scored twice or more in their last four league encounters.
The Opta win probability suggests Manchester City have a slight edge with a 40.6% chance of winning compared to Crystal Palace's 33.7%, while a draw stands at 25.7%. The stage is set for an exciting clash between these two sides as they vie for crucial points in their respective campaigns.
