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March 29 2024 1.07pm

Manchester City v Palace

City of Manchester, Saturday 12.45pm

Marouane Chamakh (Photo: Andy Roberts)

Marouane Chamakh (Photo: Andy Roberts)

Story so far

Man City will approach this game with confidence as they now sit in second place and just three points behind the league leaders Chelsea. City have managed five wins on the bounce now, and another win could see them move level on points with the West Londoners as an early Christmas present.

With their top scorer Sergio Aguero out, in addition to Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic being absent through injury, City are likely to play a re-vamped formation without a striker. This means that there will be more emphasis on Yaya Toure, and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows off his prowess. The Ivory Coast international has now bagged for goals and will look to add to that tally this weekend.

He has also grabbed one assist, and if can add to his total of 758 completed passes in the opposition half, he could prove to be a game changer. He is 33/20 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

Another man who is equally likely to make a difference is Spain international midfielder, David Silva. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index can reveal that he has completed 87.2% of his 671 passes so far this season, and he is also capable of unlocking a defence at any time with his eye for a pass.

At the other end, England international goalkeeper Joe Hart will be going in search of his third back to back clean sheet this weekend, and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index reveals just how good his form is at the moment. The Blues shot stopper has averaged 2.36 saves per goal conceded so far this season, and will look to further extend that ratio this weekend.

This weekend’s visitors to The Etihad are Crystal Palace, and the Eagles will prove anything but a walkover for the home side. The South Londoners have only lost one of their last five Premier League outings and will be looking for all three points to build a buffer between themselves and the relegation zone.

As ever, the Eagles will look to their inspirational skipper Mike Jedinak to win the midfield battle, and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows off his prowess. The Australian national team captain has illustrated his quality on the ball by scoring five goals and creating one more already this season. His statistics in defence are even more impressive having won 80.3% of his 76 tackles and made 59 interceptions.

Behind Jedinak, Martin Kelly has been Palace’s most impressive and consistent performer this season, as illustrated by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. The right back has won 85.2% of his 61 tackles this season, making 68 clearances and 27 interceptions and will be key to keeping City at bay.

At the other end, Crystal Palace will be relying on Dwight Gayle to find the back of the net, and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows off his talents. His two goals this season have come at an average of every 187 minutes, hitting the target with 75% of his attempts.

Much like Jedinak and Kelly, Gayle is also impressive in defence and has won all of his four tackles this season, showing that defending from the front is key to Palace’s success. He is 5/1 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars at fantasy.premierleague.com or with FIFA Ultimate Team for FIFA 14.

Team news

Crystal Palace striker Marouane Chamakh won't play after getting a hamstring injury against Stoke City last time out.

Joe Ledley (hip) is a major doubt but Adrian Mariappa is available after recovering from a knee injury.

Manchester City strikers Sergio Aguero (knee), Stevan Jovetic (hamstring) and Edin Dzeko (calf) are out, along with defender Vincent Kompany (hamstring).

Teenage striker Jose Angel Pozo could start in attack or James Milner, Samir Nasri or David Silva could play up top.

Manchester City: (from) Hart, Caballero, Zabaleta, Sagna, Demichelis, Mangala, Boyata, Kolarov, Clichy, Milner, Navas, Silva, Nasri, Toure, Fernando, Fernandinho, Lampard, Pozo.

Palace: (from) Speroni, Hennessey, Kelly, Fryers, Delaney, Mariappa, Dann, Ward, Hangeland, Jedinak, Bannan, McArthur, Bolasie, Thomas, Puncheon, Zaha, Gayle, Campbell, Johnson.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"They are just hitting their form. It is always difficult to go to the Etihad, they play some wonderful football but we have been playing well so we do not go there with any fear, but we realise we have got to be on top of our game to come away with anything. We know our goalkeeper and our back four have got to play well and we have got to create chances.

"(Sergio) Aguero is as good as anything, him and (Chelsea striker) Diego Costa are probably the best two in the Premier League. But if they wanted to give me Samir Nasri and David Silva I would take them tomorrow.

"I think they are as good as anybody in the country, those two, the difference between the top clubs and everyone at the bottom end is that every player in the 25 is a top international player who can play in several positions.

"We have got to know what we are doing and be on top of our game - we have done that well recently but we step it up another gear now. We did well at Swansea and Tottenham but now this is another challenge. We are going to the most difficult place, along with Stamford Bridge, so it is a good challenge for us."

Manuel Pellegrini

"The three strikers are out tomorrow. None of them are fit so we have to arrange the team without Jovetic, Dzeko and Aguero. We will try to play in another way. I hope that midfielders will arrive from the second line and we will score in another way.

"That is very important (winning) not for the pressure we can put on Chelsea but it is very important to add three more points and to finish the first round of games with the most amount of points we can. We cannot drop any more here at home because we already dropped the same number of points we did last season."


Manchester City - league stats

Position Played Won Drawn Lost Points
2nd 16 11 3 2 36

Full league table


Last five results

Date Type Home Team Score Away Team  
27/04/2014 League Crystal Palace 0 - 2 Manchester City loss
28/12/2013 League Manchester City 1 - 0 Crystal Palace loss
27/08/2009 League Cup Crystal Palace 0 - 2 Manchester City loss
15/01/2005 League Manchester City 3 - 1 Crystal Palace loss
18/09/2004 League Crystal Palace 1 - 2 Manchester City loss

All time results


Last meeting

Palace 0-2 Manchester City

Sunday April 27 2014

Palace: Speroni, Dann, Mariappa, Ward, Delaney, Ledley, Puncheon, Bolasie (Ince, 73), Jedinak, Chamakh (Murray, 69), Jerome (Gayle, 69)

Subs not used: Hennessey, Gabbidon, Parr, Dikgacoi

Bookings: Ward, Dann, Delaney

Manchester City: Hart, Demichelis, Kompany, Zabaleta yellow card, Kolarov, Toure (Fernandinho, 66), Milner, Garcia, Nasri, Aguero (Jovetic, 79), Dzeko (Negredo, 88)

Subs not used: Richards, Pantilimon, Clichy, Lescott

Goals: Dzeko (4), Toure (43)

Bookings: Zabaleta

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