Crystal Palace and Manchester City collide in clash of two of the form teams in 2019
Crystal Palace will look to extend their unbeaten Premier League run at Selhurst Park to seven matches in tomorrow’s encounter against Manchester City.
The fixture is a clash of two of the division’s form teams in 2019.
Only three top-flight clubs have taken more points than the Eagles (44) this year – City and Liverpool both banking 67 while Arsenal have collected 47.
Palace have not lost in SE25 in the Premier League since a 3-1 reverse to this weekend’s opponents in April – winning and drawing three apiece. Back then Raheem Sterling scored twice for Pep Guardiola’s side as they recorded a ninth straight league victory.
But they return to SE25 in the unfamiliar role of title underdogs with Liverpool already eight points clear. City will be looking to bounce back from a 2-0 home defeat to Wolves before the international break.
City’s record on the road is nigh on impeccable with 10 victories in their last 11 outings, that loss coming in mid-September when newly-promoted Norwich City pulled off a 3-2 upset at Carrow Road.
Palace were the only Premier League side to win at the Etihad last season – Andros Townsend’s sublime strike the highlight in a 3-2 success. The South Londoners had failed to score in their previous four meetings with City, conceding 13 goals in three of those fixtures.
Palace manager Roy Hodgson’s biggest call looks set to be whether to bring captain Luka Milivojevic straight back into the side. The Serbian international missed the 2-1 derby win at West Ham United as he served a one-match suspension.
If he does come straight back in then James McCarthy looks likely to be the one who drops to the bench.
Mamadou Sakho remains an injury doubt but the form of Gary Cahill and Martin Kelly means that the absence of the Frenchman has not been keenly felt.
Sakho and James Tomkins were the established centre-back pairing last season, but the latter’s injury issues were a factor behind Hodgson’s decision to add Cahill to his squad in the summer – the former Chelsea man looking one of the signings of the summer.
City are likely to welcome back Kevin de Bruyne, who has missed the last two matches with a groin strain.
But Guardiola will be without the injured trio of Bernard Mendy, Leroy Sane and Aymeric Laporte.
Once again Palace will look to keep Sergio Aguero quiet at Selhurst Park.
The Argentina star has 172 goals in 246 Premier League appearances but has not scored in six matches at Palace’s home.
PICTURE BY KEITH GILLARD
