Palace begin their festive fixtures with a trip North to Champions Manchester City who have done their best to keep up with title favourites Chelsea.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side will welcome the Eagles to the Etihad stadium following another decent performance against Stoke City fail to gain maximum points.
Neil Warnock’s side have lost one of their last five and drawn their last two. Yannick Bolasie was once again heavily praised by both managers after another immense display and an assist from the Congolese winger saw James McArthur bag his first goal for the club.
The Scottish international will be looking to help settle Eagles fans worries with his performances once captain Mile Jedinak heads off to the Asian Cup with his native Australia in a few weeks as well as Yannick Bolasie who is off on African Nations Cup duty.
Injury problems are beginning to work against Manuel Pelligrini and the defending Premier League champions. Sergio Aguero who is matching Diego Costa goal for goal so far this season has been hindered with an injury that will keep the Argentine out for anything between three to five weeks.
Manchester City trail Chelsea by only three points after Jose Mourinho’s side shock defeat to a resurgent Newcaslte United allowed City to capitalise. Pelligrini’s side have only lost once this season and drawn twice and will look to strengthen come January with retaining the services of impressive midfielder Frank Lampard on loan being his main business. The former Chelsea man has scored six times so far and has been a key figure in the centre of midfield and with the MLS season coming to a close, Lampard may choose to stay with the Manchester outfit.
The side from the Etihad were relatively quiet in the summer with far more outs than ins. Defender Eliaquim Mangela and midfielder Fernando both arrived from Porto. Bacary Sagna joined on a free transfer from Arsenal and Willy Cabellero joined from Malaga. Fourteen players were shown the exit door with the most notable being Joleon Lescott, Gareth Barry and Alavaro Negredo.
Team News
Manchester City – The absence of Stevan Jovetic, Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero will all miss the visit of Neil Warnock’s side which will most likely give young Spaniard Jose Pozo another start after Edin Dzeko was injured in the warm up against Leicester City. Perhaps a recall of Alvaro Negredo from Valencia is on the cards. Vincent Kompany has struggled with fitness this season and may miss this one as well with Bacary Sagna a possibility to step in for the injured captain.
Crystal Palace – Adrian Mariappa has stepped up his race to be fit for the festive period, the Jamaican international hasn’t featured for the Eagles since November against Manchester United. Marouane Chamakh has been blighted with another hamstring injury that felled the Moroccan earlier this season so Dwight Gayle or Frazier Campbell will most likely be the only change for the Eagles.
Analysis and Predictions.
Prediction for Manchester City – 2nd
Manchester City’s injury problems could not have come at a worse time. As the busy festive period kicks in they lose all three strikers to injuries which may force Manuel Pelligrini into some January transfer activity. Even though the Spaniard has spoken out against Manchester City’s title hopes resting on Sergio Aguero’s fitness.
Chelsea striker Diego Costa and Sergio Aguero have gone head to head with goals so far this season and his absence could work in Chelsea’s favour. Some smart business may see Pelligrini guide his team to title success however, unless there is some catastrophic collapse by Chelsea it is hard to see the title going anywhere else except West London.
EPL Index prediction – home win
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson’s prediction – home win
Who Scored prediction – home win
My prediction – away win
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