Crystal Palace vs Manchester City Preview: Team News, Form & Key Stats

Crystal Palace host Manchester City at Selhurst Park on Sunday at 14:00, aiming to bring an end to City’s impressive run of form.

Manchester City arrive off the back of a statement 2–1 victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, while Palace also enter the contest buoyed by European success, having beaten Irish side Shelbourne 3–0 away from home. The Eagles are in strong domestic form, winning their last three Premier League matches and currently sitting fifth in the table. They have already claimed notable victories this season against Liverpool and Aston Villa, and boast the league’s second-best defensive record, conceding just 12 goals bettered only by Arsenal, who have conceded nine.

City, meanwhile, sit second in the Premier League and have closed the gap on leaders Arsenal to just two points. Pep Guardiola’s side are the division’s top scorers with 35 goals and will be eager to test Palace’s disciplined and resilient back line.

The hosts will take confidence from the most recent meeting between the two sides, where Palace edged City 1–0 thanks to an Eberechi Eze goal to lift the FA Cup. That victory marked Palace’s first win over City in eight encounters, following four City wins and three draws.

Palace will be without Daniel Muñoz, who is sidelined with a knee injury and expected to miss at least four weeks after undergoing surgery. Jean-Philippe Mateta is expected to return to the starting XI after missing the Conference League win over Shelbourne. Cheick Doucouré remains out with a knee injury, while Canvot has been unwell and Kphora is sidelined with a back issue. Riad and Ismaïla Sarr are both doubts, though further updates on their fitness have not been confirmed.

City continue to manage several injury concerns. Rodri has been absent since October with a hamstring injury and will miss Sunday’s clash, though Yaya Touré has suggested the midfielder is looking “sharper and sharper” in recovery. John Stones is also set to miss out with a thigh problem, while Mateo Kovačić remains unavailable with an ankle injury.

With Palace’s defensive solidity up against City’s attacking firepower, Sunday’s clash promises to be a fascinating test of structure versus fluidity at Selhurst Park.