Manchester City v Crystal Palace predictions, betting preview and football tips

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Manchester City v Crystal Palace in the Premier League

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Premier League, 7.15pm Sunday

Best bet

Man City to win to nil
1pt 8-11 Paddy Power
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Team news

Man City
Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte remain sidelined with injury but fellow defender Eric Garcia is ready for selection. Sergio Aguero is also absent as he continues to self-isolate

Crystal Palace
Gary Cahill is back fit after missing out at Arsenal, while Scott Dann could also feature in the matchday squad. However, fellow defender Mamadou Sakho is unavailable due to thigh injury, while Jeffrey Schlupp will be assessed.

Match preview

Guts rather than guile was the key as Manchester City squeezed past Brighton on Wednesday and they will need to be just as resourceful against Crystal Palace.

Phil Foden was the hero as the Citizens triumphed 1-0 to make it seven wins in a row in all competitions and move to four points behind leaders Manchester United with a game in hand.

City may be famous for their free-flowing attacking play but it's their rearguard that has carried them this term, registering eight clean sheets to maintain the best defensive record in the league and conceding just 13 times in total.

With United heading to Liverpool earlier in the day, Pep Guardiola's men will be desperate to keep the pressure on both rivals but have found Palace to be awkward opponents in recent seasons.

The Eagles have taken four points from their last two trips to the Etihad and earned a deserved draw in Thursday's 0-0 at Arsenal.

Roy Hodgson is again expected to employ his preferred counter-attacking tactics as his side bid for a fourth away win of the season. Remarkably, another victory for Palace would see them become the first team to triumph away against both Manchester clubs in the same season since Liverpool in the 2008-09 campaign.

After losing 1-0 at Wolves in the FA Cup, Hodgson made eight changes at the Emirates and his rotation paid off as his side stood firm to record a second straight clean sheet in the league, having beaten Sheffield United 2-0 earlier in the month.

Speaking ahead of the game, Guardiola has told his team they will "have to be patient and find our rhythm", suggesting he is preparing for a grind. Hodgson echoed those thoughts and said his players will need "every bit as much discipline, energy and effort" as against Arsenal.

Although goals have been a feature of recent meetings - the last six games producing 26 - this has the feeling of a tighter affair, especially with Sergio Aguero again sidelined.

It almost goes without saying but one man to look for could be Kevin De Bruyne who is eyeing his 100th assist for the Citizens and has been involved in eight strikes in ten league appearances against the Eagles.

The Belgian's quality could be the difference and despite Palace being dangerous opponents, the hosts should have enough to land another win to nil.

Key stat

City have kept clean sheets in six of their last eight league games, including three of the last four

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