Crystal Palace v Man City – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

City have won four straight matches with 13 goals scored. Palace have lost just two of their last 22 home matches and beat City in the FA Cup final in May.

Match: Crystal Palace v Man City
When: Sunday, 14 Dec 2025

Crystal Palace Form

Palace went 19 games unbeaten, but their current run is five losses in 14 matches in all competitions. After threw sin, they drew 0-0 at home to Brighton. A 2-0 win followed at Wolves before a 2-1 loss at Strasbourg in the UEFA Conference League.

A 2-1 home defeat followed to Man Utd having led 1-0. Oliver Glasner’s side have recovered well by winning their last three fixtures. A 1-0 win at Burnley saw Palace have just three shots. A late goal sealed a 2-1 win at Fulham, before putting up 28 shots and 3.89 xG in a 3-0 win at Shelbourne in midweek.

Crystal Palace Team News

Coach Oliver Glasner is without midfielder Cheick Doucoure and centre back Chadi Riad due to injury. Right wingback Daniel Munoz is ruled out so Nathaniel Clyne will deputise.

Jean-Philippe Mateta is nursing a knee injury but should be fit to play. Ismaila Sarr has an ankle problem so Eddie Nketiah could get another start.

Crystal Palace Motivation

Palace will have confidence going into this match. They have beat City recently and will look to win this match at home, whilst a point is also a good result.

Glasner’s side will look to absorb pressure for long parts of the match. A more direct game could be seen to Mateta and Nketiah with Sarr ruled out.

Man City Form

City have won their last four matches after a blip. After winning 3-0 at Liverpool, they lost 2-1 at Newcastle and were beaten 2-0 at home by Bayer Leverkusen in a shock result. A 3-2 home win over Leeds saw 3.10 xG produced.

Man City won 5-4 at Fulham having led 5-1 from just 11 shots, before nearly throwing away two points. They beat Sunderland 3-0 last weekend and secured a fine 2-1 away win over Man City in midweek. They put up 2.60 xG in a strong display in Spain.

Man City Team News

Pep Guardiola is without three players. Rodri and Mateo Kovacic are absent in midfield and defender John Stones is ruled out once again.

Rayan Ait Nouri and Omar Marmoush could get rare starts before leaving for the AFCON. Nathan Ake and Tijjani Reijnders are also pushing to start in the side is rotated.

Man City Motivation

City are now just two points behind Arsenal. Nothing less than a win will do here.

Guardiola’s side will try to control the game with the ball. They won’t be too open and expose themselves to Palace’s counters.

Key Stats

• Crystal Palace have lost just 1 of their last 22 home matches (all competitions)
• Palace have won their last 3 matches
• Man City have won their last 4 matches (13 goals scored)
• City have won just 2 of their last 5 matches vs Crystal Palace
• Man City’s Haaland has scored 35 goals in his last 27 matches for club and country

Verdict

Palace looked tired in their last match after playing on Thursday night. That could hand City the advantage here.

Featured Bet: Man City win, Both Teams to Score, and Haaland to score anytime at 3.55

Best Bet: Man City win at 1.93

Goalscorer Tip: Haaland to score 2 or more goals at 4.50