City v Palace: Injury ravaged Eagles out to add the Citizens to their list

By: Timothy Dehinbo

Manchester City host Crystal Palace lunchtime on Saturday, as the 2016/2017 Premier League season reaches crunch time with teams looking to finish on a high be it to avoid relegation or qualify for European competition.

The Sam Allardyce tutored side will attempt to bounce back from successive defeats and claim another scalp at Manchester City on Saturday. The Eagles are six points above the

The Eagles are six points above the relegation zone with three games to play after steadily improving under the former England manager, and will be wary of the form shown by drop rivals, Swansea.

The game at the Etihad may well define Palace’s season given that they also face a daunting trip to Manchester United on the final day.

Palace have already beaten Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool in recent weeks, and a shock win at City will all but secure their place in the top flight for a fourth consecutive season.

Manchester City’s hopes of playing in the Uefa Champions League next season rely on positive results till the end of the season. The Sky Blues lie only one point ahead of Manchester United in the standings, and any slip at this point
could see them miss out on their European objective.

The opening season of Pep Guardiola’s tenure as City manager has been an inconsistent affair, as the Spanish coach learns to balance his tactics against the power and pace of English football.

The Citizens have appeared motivated in attack as they slice through teams, but they have not been consistent in defence despite the much-heralded purchase of John Stones last summer.

Crystal Palace can bank on Christian Benteke’s recent goalscoring form and Zaha’s ability to dart past opposition players.  Benteke has scored 14 times in the Premier League this term.

Palace do have a long list of injuries ahead of the fixture, with Yohan Cabaye, James Tomkins and Pape Souare all doubtful, according to the club’s official website. Scott Dann, Connor Wickham and Mamadou Sakho will not make the trip.

The head- to- head between both teams may make for pleasant reading for Guardiola with 24 wins for City, 13 wins for Palace and 12 draws between them.

It sure promises to be a cracker at the Etihad, which could have massive significance on the achievement of both clubs come the end of this campaign.