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The second round of Premier League fixtures opens with Crystal Palace welcoming Manchester City to Selhurst Park on Friday Night Football.
The Eagles lost their opening game 2-0 at Everton in Pierre Sage's first in charge, while Enzo Maresca started his top-flight reign at the Cityzens with a 2-1 home win against Bournemouth.
The visitors now have a chance to open up an early lead at the top of the table, with title favourites Arsenal not playing until Monday night away to Aston Villa.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City key stats
- Palace are winless in eight league games (D3, L5).
- Man City were unbeaten in all seven league trips to London last season (W4, D3).
- Man City are unbeaten in the last nine league H2Hs (W6, D3).
Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City preview: Cityzens to seal win?
Crystal Palace vs Man City — Tale of the Tape
| Crystal Palace | vs | Man City |
|---|---|---|
| 16th | Position | 8th |
| 0 | Points | 3 |
| 0 | Goals For | 2 |
| 2 | Goals Against | 1 |
| 0 | Clean Sheets | 0 |
| 13th | Home / Away Rank | 11th |
Sage did not get off to the start he wanted as the new Palace manager as they lost to Everton.
It was always going to be a tough task to follow Oliver Glasner, who won the club their first major trophy in the FA Cup and also the Conference League last season.
Transfer speculation is not helping him either, with key players Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta strongly linked with moves.
Chadi Riad picked up a knock against Everton and so is also a doubt for the Eagles, who are seen as underdogs here.
Jeremy Doku remains injured for Man City, but they could give a debut to new £86m signing Ayyoub Bouaddi.
The teenager showed plenty of promise at the World Cup with Morocco, and is part of the Cityzens' midfield rebuild alongside £116m Elliot Anderson after the key departures of Rodri and Bernardo Silva.
Maresca is now tasked with trying to get a new-look squad to gel after Pep Guardiola left his post, with Man City now two years without the Premier League title.
Still, a win here would put them, at least temporarily, at the top of the table with their title rivals yet to play.
Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City form guide & betting tips
| Crystal Palace | vs | Man City |
|---|---|---|
L |
Form | W |
| 0 | Points | 3 |
| 16th | Form Table | 8th |
| 0 | Goals For | 2 |
| 2 | Goals Against | 1 |
WWWLL |
Form (All Comps) | LWWLW |
Whispers predicts: Crystal Palace 0-3 Manchester City
Man City are 11/17 (1.65) favourites to win, but while we side with the bookies, we want to explore more ambitious bets.
BTTS – No at 6/5 (2.20) is our first pick, given Palace have drawn blanks in their last two games.
Rayan Cherki to assist at 9/4 (3.25) could also be worth a gamble as even though he did not start against Bournemouth, he set up both goals and is surely knocking on Maresca's door.
Overall, we are predicting a Correct score – 0-3 at 14/1 (15.00), which has been the result in the previous two H2Hs.
> BTTS – No at 6/5 (2.20) | Likelihood: Possible
> Rayan Cherki to assist at 9/4 (3.25) | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score – 0-3 at 14/1 (15.00) | Likelihood: Outsider