Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero continue their comeback from injury by starting on the bench this afternoon, while Fabian Delph skippers the team for the first time.
Gabriel Jesus returns in attack.
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Starting XI
Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Otamendi, Delph (c), Gundogan, Bernardo, Sane, Sterling, Jesus
Subs: Muric, Danilo, Aguero, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Foden Zinchenko
📋 Here’s the #CPFC 🦅 side to take on @ManCity this afternoon! #MCICRY pic.twitter.com/3zt964iO9e
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 22, 2018
Blues look to keep pressure on
In what is proving a fascinating battle to lead the Premier League, City go into today’s game four points adrift of Liverpool who beat Wolves 2-0 last night.
There is no margin for error as both sides blaze a trail, with the meeting between City and Liverpool on 3 January looking likely to be more pivotal as each game passes.
Palace gave a good account of themselves on both occasions last season and even though they lost 5-0 at the Etihad, the Eagles had two or three very good chances while the score was 0-0.
And only a last-minute penalty miss at Selhurst Park preserved the Blues’ unbeaten start to last season as the Blues left South London with a hard-earned 0-0 draw.
Don’t be surprised if the visitors use their pace and set up to have a go at the champions this afternoon, particularly on the counter-attack.
Stats, milestones and trivia
Palace have taken four points from a possible 72 on their past 24 visits to Manchester – including games against both City and United.
City have the only remaining 100% home record in all four divisions.
Palace have lost 5-0 on their last two visits to the Etihad and their six Premier league visits have all ended in defeat and an aggregate of 21 goals conceded, one scored.
The Blues enjoy 3pm Saturday kick-offs – we have won the last 15 in succession, scoring 57 goals in the process and conceded seven – not bad!
