Premier League: Monday Night football is Key in City’s Title Quest

Crystal Palace vs Manchester City

Monday night football at Selhurst Park and, as one of only two teams to have beaten Manchester City in the Premier League this season, Crystal Palace may be one of the biggest obstacles remaining between Pep Guardiola’s side and another title triumph.

Certainly, this looks a potentially key fixture in the final third of the 2021/22 season for the reigning champions with Liverpool currently breathing down their necks at the summit.

At times this season, Palace have been terrific at home so a true test of their credentials awaits.

Talking Points

Certainly, City can ill afford to drop more points following a last-gasp setback at home to Spurs last month which has opened up the race again.

The main team news for the visitors centres on the heart of their defence with Aymeric Laporte and John Stones set to resume their partnership in the absence of footballer of the year Ruben Dias.

Laporte may recall being given the run-around by Palace in October. On that occasion, the Spaniard was dispossessed in the build-up to Palace’s first goal and was tormented by Wilfried Zaha for 45 minutes before getting himself sent off for hacking the forward down.

Liverpool, who certainly know what it is like to blow a title chance at Selhurst Park, will be hoping for more of the same on Monday, in a match which could be jam packed with Premier League highlights.

Zaha has found form again of late and has just won the Premier League goal of the month accolade for February.

Palace could also be boosted by the return of experienced defender Joel Ward who will face a late fitness test after returning to training in the aftermath of a groin injury.

However, fellow right-back Nathan Ferguson remains absent with a hamstring issue, while James McArthur is still dealing with a knock.

In the dugouts, Guardiola faces a compatriot who had a spell at City on both sides of the coin.

Patrick Vieira began his coaching career at Eastlands after hanging up his boots there in 2011 and previously spent time observing Guardiola in training sessions (at both Bayern Munich and at City) while he was rising through the ranks.

As the two former midfield generals prepare to lock horns, Guardiola has been talking up Vieira for how easily he has settled back into the English top flight.

The way he has improved Palace has certainly proved me wrong and there seems plenty of optimism around Selhurst Park, albeit inconsistency seems to remain the issue it was under previous incumbents.

Vieira’s side are in good form alright with just one defeat in eight but will need to raise its levels even higher against a City team which has taken 35 from a possible 42 points on their travels this season.

History

As you would expect, City have had the upper hand over the years with 35 wins compared to Palace’s 17 successes. There have been a further 14 draws.

The very first meeting came in the first round of the 1921 FA Cup when Palace ran out 2-0 winners.

Their next meeting also came in the FA Cup five years later and resulted in a remarkable 11-4 victory for City at Maine Road.

After that they didn’t meet again until 1965, their first ever league clash.

In more recent years, City have been the dominant force, winning 11 out of their 14 clashes in all competitions and drawing the other two.

That was until earlier this season when Zaha and Connor Gallagher scored the Eagles’ goals in a 2-0 win, made easier by Laporte’s dismissal for the home side on the stroke of half-time.

The corresponding fixture last season saw City ease to a 2-0 success at Selhurst Park enroute to their title triumph, courtesy of two goals in three minutes from Sergio Aguero and Ferran Torres.

Palace haven’t beaten City on their own patch since April 2015 when Glenn Murray and Jason Puncheon were on target in a 2-1 win. Yaya Toure pulled one bac for City in that contest.

Betting Tip

The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds all point to an away win with City priced 1X2 @ 1.31 and Asian Handicap -1.75 @ 2.23

Palace are much further adrift with the odds including both 1X2 @ 9.50 and Asian Handicap +1.25 @ 2.28.

The 1X2 draw has a certain appeal @ 5.00.

As for a repeat of Palace’s 2-0 win from October, then you will earn a pay day of @ 100.00 with Correct Score, which will also pay out @ 5.60 if City repeat their 2-0 scoreline from Selhurst Park last term.

For bets surrounding goals, then look at total goal 0-1 @ 4.20, 2-3 @ 2.07, 4-6 @ 2.98 and over 3.00 goal @ 2.16.

I do think this will be a close contest and I am going to opt for over 3.00 goals @ 2.16 as my *** prediction.

 

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