Manchester City has a trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday that has more potential to be perilous than most people might realize. Palace took the reverse fixture earlier this season and now the Eagles have their eyes on a rare double over the Citizens, having last accomplished the feat way back in 1972-73.
Having this game sandwiched in between both legs of City’s UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie with Tottenham Hotspur certainly works in the London club’s favor. Let’s take a look at the fitness situation for both teams, starting with the visitors.
The first question Manchester City boss Pep Gaurdiola faced at his news conference today was on the status of Bernardo Silva and Oleksandr Zinchenko. Guardiola said that both are getting better, but it’s hard to say if they’ll be ready in time for this match.
Silva is 50/50 after sitting out the last two matches, Cardiff City and Tottenham, due to a muscular injury. Zinchenko is doubtful, leaving Pep with a less than ideal situation in the back.
Speaking of having a less than ideal selection in the back line, Mamadou Sakho remains out for Palace, while team captain James Tomkins is a doubt after limping off early against Newcastle United in their last match.
The hosts may be without their first choice central defense pairing, and you can imagine how that might work out against a side that has scored almost 20 more goals than any other Premier League team that has also played 32 games.
The next closest in scoring to City is Liverpool, who have eight less goals, but have played one more game.
Manchester City at Crystal Palace FYIs
Kickoff- Sunday Apr 14, Selhurst Park 4:30 pm
Manchester City Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Pep Guardiola press conference video:
Match official- Andre Marriner
Form Guide: Manchester City- WWWWW Crystal Palace- WLWLW
Google Result Probability- Manchester City win 73%, Draw 17%, Crystal Palace win 10%
Prediction: Manchester City 4, Crystal Palace 2
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.