Crystal Palace – Manchester City | Betting Tip & Prediction (07.12.2024)

Kick-off: Saturday, 7th December 2024, at 15:00 GMT

Crystal Palace welcome Manchester City to Selhurst Park for a Premier League encounter with two teams at opposite ends of the table. Palace are fighting to avoid slipping into the relegation zone, while City aim to reduce the gap to the league leaders.

Form Analysis: Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace are 17th in the Premier League table with 12 points from 14 matches. Their record of two wins, six draws, and six losses reflects a tough campaign under Oliver Glasner. Palace have managed to score only 12 goals while conceding 18, underlining their struggles in front of goal.

Palace’s recent form includes two draws and one win in their last five matches. They held Leicester to a 0-0 stalemate last week, with Dean Henderson pulling off several key saves. Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta have been their standout performers, with Eze creating opportunities from midfield and Mateta contributing four goals. Defensively, Marc Guehi has been solid, playing every minute this season, while Daniel Muñoz has added attacking intent from the back. However, Palace lack consistency in attack, with Eddie Nketiah failing to score in his last five appearances.

Form Analysis: Manchester City

Manchester City are 4th in the Premier League table with 26 points from 14 matches. Pep Guardiola’s side has been impressive, winning eight, drawing two, and losing four games. They’ve scored 25 goals and conceded 19, showing occasional defensive lapses but maintaining an explosive attack.

City come into this match after a resounding 3-1 win over Tottenham, with Erling Haaland scoring twice to take his league tally to 12 goals. Bernardo Silva has been integral to City’s midfield, contributing three assists, while Josko Gvardiol has been excellent in defence. However, injuries to Kevin De Bruyne and fitness concerns for Jack Grealish have limited City’s creativity in some matches. Guardiola’s side will look to dominate possession and exploit Palace’s defensive gaps.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Manchester City have dominated recent meetings with Crystal Palace, winning four of their last five matches. Their most recent encounter in March 2024 ended in a 4-1 victory for City, with Haaland netting a hat-trick. Palace’s last win against City came in 2021, highlighting their struggles in this fixture.

Tactical Analysis

Crystal Palace are expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on defensive organisation and counter-attacks. Eberechi Eze will be their creative outlet in midfield, while Jean-Philippe Mateta will lead the line. Defensively, Marc Guehi and Daniel Muñoz will need to be at their best to contain Haaland and City’s dynamic forwards.

Manchester City, under Pep Guardiola, will adopt their trademark 4-3-3 formation. Erling Haaland will spearhead the attack, supported by Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden. In midfield, Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gündogan will look to dictate the tempo, while Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias anchor the defence. City’s high pressing and possession-based play are likely to dominate proceedings.

Predicted Lineups

• Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Dean Henderson – Daniel Muñoz, Marc Guehi, Maxence Lacroix, Tyrick Mitchell – Will Hughes, Jefferson Lerma – Eberechi Eze, Daichi Kamada, Ismaila Sarr – Jean-Philippe Mateta.
• Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson – Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Kyle Walker – Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gündogan – Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish.

Betting Options and Odds

1. Manchester City to Win (Odds: 1.30): City’s form and quality make them heavy favourites for this fixture.
2. Both Teams to Score – No (Odds: 1.80): Crystal Palace’s struggles in attack and City’s strong defence suggest a clean sheet for Guardiola’s side.
3. Over 2.5 Goals (Odds: 1.60): With Haaland in form and City’s attacking prowess, a high-scoring game is likely.

Betting Tip & Prediction: Crystal Palace – Manchester City (07.12.2024)

Manchester City’s superior quality and form make them overwhelming favourites in this match. Palace’s defensive organisation may frustrate City in the opening stages, but Guardiola’s side has the attacking depth to break through and secure a comfortable victory.

Prediction: Manchester City to Win & Over 2.5 Goals (Odds: 1.70), with a likely scoreline of 3-0 in favour of Manchester City.