Manchester City v Crystal Palace, Premier League: Where to Watch, Preview and Team News

Manchester City take on Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, just two days after their brilliant 2-1 win over Liverpool at the same venue.

Where to Watch

Kick-off is set for 3pm GMT. Highlights of the game will be available on Match of the Day on BBC One from 10:30pm GMT.

Overview

Manchester City will go top of the table if they avoid losing to Palace, and could stay there until New Year if Arsenal fail to win their game against Newcastle on Sunday.

The Citizens come into the game on the back of a morale-boosting win over Liverpool and will be hot favourites against Palace. City are the only team in England to have won all their home games in the league this season and want to use this form to pile the pressure on their title rivals.

Manuel Pellegrini will be without Sergio Aguero for the game after the Argentinian striker missed the last four goals of City's 6-3 demolition of Arsenal with a calf injury. However, with the likes of Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko in their ranks, the former Malaga man will be confident that his side should beat a club currently trying to stave off relegation.

Crystal Palace come into the game on the back of a morale-boosting away win over Aston Villa on Boxing Day, but will be wary of City's strength at the Etihad. The Villa win has taken them to 17<sup>th position, level on points with Fulham, but ahead on goal difference. A result here will give Tony Pulis's side some much needed confidence going into the New Year.

What the Managers Say

Manuel Pellegrini: "It's a different challenge maybe everyone thinks it will be an easy game but I think that all of the teams fighting against relegation are very tough to play against. We must try to recover as soon as we can from the Liverpool game and try to get into our best shape. Well see what happens but I don't think it will be an easy game."

Tony Pulis: "There's a long way to go. It's a hard season - no one knows that better than me. We haven't got an easy game at Manchester City - they are averaging about four-and-a-half or five goals a game. So we know how difficult it's going to be."

Form Guide

Manchester City

• Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): W W W W W
• Last Result: Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool

Crystal Palace

• Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): W L L W W
• Last Result: Aston Villa 0-1 Crystal Palace

Team News

Manchester City

• Injured: Sergio Agüero (calf), Micah Richards (hamstring), Martin Demichelis (hamstring), Stevan Jovetic (hamstring).
• Doubtful: N/A
• Suspended: N/A

Probable Line-Up: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Kolarov; Fernandinho, Touré; Navas, Silva, Nasri; Negredo.

Crystal Palace

• Injured: Kagisho Dikgacoi (unspecified), Adlene Guédioura (ribs),Jack Hunt (ankle), Paddy McCarthy (match fitness),Glenn Murray (knee), Stuart O'Keefe (thigh), Jerome Thomas (groin).
• Doubtful: N/A
• Suspended: N/A

Probable Line-Up: Speroni; Mariapa, Gabbidon, Delaney, Parr; Bolasie, Jedinak, Bannan, Puncheon; Chamakh, Jerome.