Manchester City will look to continue their fantastic recent run on Sunday when they host Crystal Palace in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s side have been overlooked by some after spending the festive period outside the top four, but a run of four straight wins has them in third place, four points off the summit with a game in hand.
Most recently, they saw off Brighton in midweek by a single goal - despite Raheem Sterling’s late penalty miss - and have won seven on the bounce in all competitions. City’s last defeat came in November against Tottenham, highlighting the consistency they have found in the middle third of the campaign.
Crystal Palace, by contrast, have won one of their last eight in all competitions, though their midweek draw with Arsenal showed more defensive resilience than had been the case previously.
Roy Hodgson’s men sit 13th in the table so have no immediate relegation fears, but their regular poor runs of form are an ongoing concern and are what many fans have pointed to as to where they may improve with a managerial change next term.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match this evening.
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Defenders Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte remain sidelined for Man City. Eric Garcia and Sergio Aguero are still doubts, but changes could come with Kyle Walker, Gabriel Jesus or Ferran Torres coming into the line-up.
Palace have Gary Cahill and Scott Dann both back from injury, but they might have to wait for a spot in the team after a clean sheet against Arsenal. However, the likes of Martin Kelly, Mamadou Sakho, Jeffrey Schlupp and Nathan Ferguson are all still out injured.
MCI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Cancelo; Rodri, Gundogan; Sterling, De Bruyne, Foden; Jesus
CPA: Guaita; Ward, Kouyate, Tomkins, Mitchell; Townsend, McArthur, Milivojevic, Eze; Benteke, Zaha
A Sunday evening stroll for Pep Guardiola and Co. They might have to be patient to break down Hodgson’s massed ranks, but there’s confidence within City’s squad and several attackers in good form. Man City 3-0 Palace.
