Premier League news: Manchester City vs Crystal Palace – Five key battles and score prediction

Manchester City are in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification for the first time since 2010, currently sitting in sixth place on the Premier League table with only seven games to go.

However, a win this weekend coupled with results elsewhere going their way would see them leapfrog Newcastle United and Chelsea into fourth.

Three points on Saturday won’t come easy, though, as they face Crystal Palace, who are sitting on top of the form table having won four of their last five, including a 2-1 victory over Brighton at Selhurst Park last time out.

Ahead of the clash at the Etihad, Sports News Blitz writer Liam Caffry takes a look at the two managers as well as some key battles to be fought on the pitch before offering a score prediction.

Pep Guardiola vs Oliver Glasner

Guardiola and Glasner, it must be said, have very conflicting styles.

The City gaffer likes a well-oiled machine that keeps the ball until the perfect pass is available to play, as evidenced by his team averaging 61.2% possession this season.

And while it has not proved so invincible of late, with more and more teams finding a way to overturn the Guardiola machine, a task that seemed impossible just 12 months ago, the Catalan’s style is nevertheless fast becoming the style of most teams in the Premier league.

Glasner, on the other hand, will stick to his philosophy of encouraging players to use their individual brilliance.

Such an approach has been particularly effective for someone like Eberechi Eze, who has provided eight assists for his team this season.

Palace are also set up well at the back and boast the joint-third-best clean sheet record in the league, which bodes well for the trip to City.

READ MORE: Man City news: Midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne to leave Etihad this summer

Kevin De Bruyne vs Adam Wharton

De Bruyne has been a shadow of his former self lately and recently announced that he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season.

The midfielder has a habit of scoring against the Eagles, having struck four goals on the way to winning 12 out of 17 games against them.

Someone who will look to lock up De Bruyne on Saturday is Wharton.

Signed from Blackburn Rovers in January 2024, the Englishman has taken the step up from the Championship to the Premier League in his stride, even earning a spot in England’s Euro 2024 squad in the process.

Wharton returned from a groin injury in February and promptly featured in a 2-0 win over Manchester United.

Since then, Palace have won seven out of nine and only lost once thanks to his ball-carrying ability and knack for winning back possession making the midfield tick.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Man Utd news: Manchester rivals play out goalless draw in snoozefest derby

Ruben Dias vs Jean-Philippe Mateta

Few players in City’s team have carried their form from previous seasons into 2024-25.

One of them is Dias, who has been a rock at the back this term and almost single-handedly kept his team in contention for a Champions League spot.

The Portuguese defender has made zero errors leading to a goal, racked up seven clean sheets, and was recently given the responsibility of the captaincy on account of his leadership.

Dias will not be expecting an easy game on Saturday when he comes up against a defender’s worst nightmare in Mateta.

The Frenchman's game is about more than just scoring goals – he gives defenders something to think about all the time as he presses from the front.

Indeed, Mateta has won 70% of his attempted tackles this campaign and reclaimed the ball 17 times in the final third.

With 13 Premier League goals to his name as well, Mateta is set to be a real problem for Dias both on and off the ball this weekend.

READ NEXT: Premier League news: Aston Villa continue Champions League quest with win over Nottingham Forest

Matheus Nunes vs Eberechi Eze

Nunes has been given a real baptism of fire this season, making more appearances but doing so during City’s worst campaign since before Guardiola took over eight years ago.

The Portugal international has featured primarily at right-back for the Citizens, with a 65% tackle success rate and a 46% duel-winning rate.

Those stats pose an issue for Nunes as he will have to contend with one of the league's most creative and skilful midfielders in Eze on Saturday.

Eze has a tendency to drift over to the left in order to drive back inside and either get a shot off or make a line-cutting pass to set up one of his teammates.

The midfielder attempts an average of four dribbles per game, more than 96% of players, and Nunes will need to be on his toes to stop Eze from breaking City’s line.

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN: Five unwanted records in Premier League history: Derby, Sunderland, Sheff Utd and more

Omar Marmoush vs Maxence Lacroix

Marmoush joined City from Eintracht Frankfurt in January to bring some more individuality to Guardiola’s team.

The Egyptian has certainly made a sunny start in rainy Manchester, with five goals in nine Premier League games, including the winner in a recent FA Cup quarter-final victory at Bournemouth.

In the absence of star man Erling Haaland, Marmoush should start up front like he did in last week's Manchester derby and be tasked with breaking down Palace’s mean defence.

On that note, Palace suffered a huge blow last weekend as skipper Marc Guehi picked up a red card that will see him miss the game against City.

Frenchman Lacroix will look to step up during his suspension and take control at the back.

Lacroix has been vital for the Eagles this season, making 27 appearances and keeping nine clean sheets as well as scoring against the Citizens in December’s fixture.

Blessed with blistering pace – he has made five last-man tackles this term – Lacroix is likely to be in charge of keeping Marmoush’s runs in behind to a minimum.

Summary

It was a 2-2 draw the last time these two sides met, with City coming from behind twice to earn a point in London.

City’s rollercoaster season has shown no signs of stopping since then and Palace are topping the form table at the moment, so this game has the makings of a close contest and could go either way.

Score prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Crystal Palace (8/1 with Bet365)

CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS: Frank Lampard’s Coventry City revival: Can he guide them back to the Premier League?