Here comes Manchester City- they’re going to be in the Premier League title race after all. In the eyes of many, they’re the current favorites. Currently, City sit third, but they have a game in hand on the two teams ahead of them and they’re just four points behind the league leading team they share Manchester with.
Most impressively, they’ve overcome a very slow start to the season and ascended the table in spite of a COVID-19 outbreak ravaging the team. Up next is a very winnable home game against south London side Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace at Manchester City FYIs
Kickoff: 7:15 pm GMT, Jan 17, City of Manchester Stadium
Manchester City Starting XI Prediction: go here
Table Position: Manchester City 3rd, 32 pts Crystal Palace 20th, 5 pts
Premier League Form Guide: Manchester City WWWWD Crystal Palace WLLLD
Odds: Manchester City -667 Crystal Palace +1500 Draw +650
TV: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League
Team News for Both Sides
As we said, the coronavirus pandemic is wreaking havoc on City’s squad depth and manager Pep Guardiola’s selection process. All-time leading scorer Sergio Aguero is in self-isolation after having had close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual.
However, Eric Garcia, who tested positive for COVID-19 has overcome it, completed his isolation period, and is now available for selection.
Elsewhere central defenders Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake face late fitness tests, and may post a substantial selection headache for Guardiola in central defense.
Prediction: Manchester City 2, Crystal Palace 0
Roy Hodgson’s side is a tough out, no doubt about it, but the Citizens should have plenty enough to get the result here.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank, partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune and SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.