The Matchday 16 Premier League fixture between Crystal Palace and Manchester City will take place on December 14 at Selhurst Park in London. Crystal Palace vs Manchester City: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Crystal Palace
The side won away at Fulham in the last round (2-1), claiming their third victory in four league matches. Palace even managed to score in the one defeat during that stretch. As a result, Oliver Glasner's team matched their longest scoring run in the Premier League 2025/26, but the club has only 20 goals in total, the lowest tally among sides currently occupying European places, where Crystal Palace sit fourth. Defensively they remain solid, having conceded just 12 goals — only Arsenal (9) look more reliable at the back.
- No more than two goals were scored in 5 of the last 7 Premier League matches involving the Londoners.
- The team has avoided defeat in 12 of their last 13 home league games (6 wins, 6 draws).
- In 5 of the last 7 home Premier League matches the club conceded no more than one goal.
Predicted Crystal Palace lineup (3-4-3)*
Dean Henderson – Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi – Tyrick Mitchell, Nathaniel Clyne, Daichi Kamada, Adam Wharton – Jeremy Pino, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Edward Nketia.
Midfielders Caleb Cropa and Cheik Doucoure, along with defenders Chadi Riad and Daniel Munoz, will miss the game through injury.
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola's side beat Sunderland 3-0 at home in the last round. That victory was City's third straight league win and their fifth in six Premier League outings (one defeat). Notably, City have scored at least three goals in each of their wins during this run, a sequence that has helped them remain the division's top scorers with 35 goals. In the table they sit second, two points behind leaders Arsenal.
- The team opened the scoring in 11 of their last 13 league matches.
- Manchester City conceded in 5 of their last 6 Premier League games.
- In 5 of the last 6 away league matches the club scored no more than one goal.
Predicted Manchester City lineup (4-3-3)*
Gianluigi Donnarumma – Matheus Nunes, Rúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol, Niko O’Riley – Nico González, Bernardo Silva, Ryan Cherki – Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland.
Defender John Stones and midfielders Mateo Kovačić and Rodri are unavailable due to injury.
Referee
Darren England (England)
Matches – 9 (Premier League, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 32;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.6;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 21;
Penalties – 11%.
Match Prediction: Crystal Palace vs Manchester City
One of the league's most dependable defences faces a stern examination as the division's most prolific attack arrives at Selhurst Park. Manchester City are in a rich vein of form, enjoying a six-match scoring run in the Premier League that yielded 18 goals. However, two of their clean sheets during that period came at home; on the road in 2025/26 City have managed only two shutouts, one of which was against bottom-placed Wolverhampton.
Since November, Palace have recorded four of their seven clean sheets for the season. Containing City's final third threat will be a tall order, yet Crystal Palace are not toothless — they have found the net in nine of their last 11 Premier League games. Additionally, both teams have scored in five of the last six head-to-head meetings in the Premier League, which supports the selection below.
My prediction: Both teams to score – Yes
* For each team the starting lineup shown is from their previous match in this competition.
