Manchester City have been in atrocious form of late and Crystal Palace will be looking to capitalise on Saturday afternoon.
Pep Guardiola saw his Manchester City side go seven games without a win between the 30th of October and the 1st of December.
This unprecedented run of form for the Citizens saw six losses, however ended on Wednesday when Nottingham Forest was swept aside 3-0.
This won’t have pleased Oliver Glasner who probably viewed the game as winnable during this run. But despite Wednesday’s result, Crystal Palace could absolutely be in with a chance.
The injury crisis Guardiola continues to suffer from will also play a part in making the game competitive from a Palace point of view.
Pep Guardiola’s injury crisis continues
Crystal Palace have been no stranger to injury crises’ over the past few months – however, heading into Saturday’s game it is absolutely City who are in the worse shape.
Josep 'Pep' Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, issues instructions to Manuel Akanji of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25...
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
The injury woes for the blue side of Manchester have continued this week, with Guardiola guaranteeing six players will miss out against Crystal Palace.
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City remain without John Stones, Rodri, Oscar Bobb and Mateo Kovacic this weekend, while the list grew mid-week.
Nathan Ake went down towards the end of City’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest with a hamstring problem. Guardiola, on Friday, confirmed that Ake will not make the squad for Selhurst Park.
“Nathan is out,” Guardiola said in the press conference.
While Manu Akanji is in with a chance, Guardiola sounded pessimistic about his chances.
“Manu we will see.”
Oliver Glasner and Crystal Palace won’t have any sympathy for Guardiola
While Guardiola will be beyond baffled by his team’s form and dismayed over the injury problems he is having to contend with – Glasner will not be sympathetic.
Glasner confirmed on Friday that Adam Wharton will miss out, while Chadi Riad is still absent along with Matheus Franca.
Crystal Palace have among the worst injury records in the league and so we doubt the Austrian will be feeling sorry for Guardiola and his incredibly deep squad.
If City are in the form they were last month, this could very well be another big game for Crystal Palace – with the Eagles record against big clubs this season very encouraging.
The mind casts back to last December and Roy Hodgson getting a draw at the Etihad – can Glasner go one better at Selhurst Park this year?
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