Man City vs Crystal Palace tips and predictions: Pep Guardiola’s troops to serve up another Palace defeat

Poor old Roy Hodgson is a sucker for punishment, this match is the last thing he wants before a busy Christmas period. This time last year he was retired.

But Hodgson hates retirement so much he sticks two fingers up the golf course, fishing lake or a cosy afternoon in front of the tv dozing off as the winner of 2.05 from Bangor wearily crosses the line.

Hodgson would much prefer being in the dugout peering across the Manchester skyline as Pep Guardiola’s dashing side consign his Eagles to fifth defeat in six. Hodgson is football hardcore. Nuff said.

However, though Steve Cooper and Erik ten Hag appear to be in the ‘next Premier League manager to be sacked’ firing line, it’s Hodgson who has started to climb that market (8/1 if you are interested).

West Ham gifted Hodgson his only point in the last 15, and one win in the last eight Premier League matches against a feeble Burnley side is the kind of form that gets managers sacked.

Hodgson has a lot of stock in the Palace bank, but his press conferences are starting to get him into trouble. He’s already apologised to the Palace fans and had to clear up an Eberechi Eze misunderstanding. That sniper is already loading his rifle.

Everyone bar Manchester City fans would love to see Hodgson pull something out of the bag on Saturday.

He came very close to getting something against Liverpool last weekend and has already biffed Manchester United on the nose at Old Trafford in late September. Though everyone can do that nowadays.

But Palace don’t like this fixture. Two wins in the last 16 is not good, although those victories did come at the Etihad which offers a little encouragement.

City are also unbeaten in 26 at home in all competitions and Palace’s depleted squad will struggle to make a dent against a City side that are working their way back into form after a mini-blip.

Sorry Roy, you should have stuck to the pipe and slippers.

Team news

Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku are big doubts for the clash, while Kevin De Bruyne is still a long-term absentee.

Guardiola is likely return his side to its usual look after shuffling the pack against Red Star in midweek, with Jack Grealish expected to shake off a knock.

Crystal Palace’s physio table is now groaning after Sam Johnstone, Jefferson Lerma and Odsonne Edouard picked up injuries against Liverpool.

They are expected to join Eze, Tyrick Mitchell, Rob Holding, Dean Henderson, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Cheick Doucoure in missing the match.

Jordan Ayew is suspended.

 

Key stats

-    Palace have no win or clean sheet in five
-    City have only lost this encounter twice in the last 16
-    City are unbeaten at home in 26 across all competitions
-    Haaland has four from two in this fixture

 

Predictions

-    City to win to nil
-    Over 2.5 goals
-    City to lead half-time and full-time