Manchester City vs Crystal Palace preview: Vincent Kompany returns after injury

By Ric Turner, Fri 22 September 2017 14:48


Manchester City vs Crystal Palace preview: Vincent Kompany returns after injuryIlkay Gundogan is "lucky" that injury sustained at Hawthorns isn't long-term

Manchester City vs Crystal Palace

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 3.00pm, Saturday 23rd September 2017

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Referee: Neil Swarbrick Assistants: S Ledger, A Garratt Fourth Official: T Harrington

Odds: City 1/7, Draw 9/1, Crystal Palace 20/1. Check out the betting tips for match here.

Tickets: Available via tickets.mancity.com

TV: Match of the Day

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Bravo, Ederson, Muric, Danilo, Kompany, Mangala, Mendy, Otamendi, Stones, Walker, De Bruyne, Delph, Fernandinho, Sane, B Silva, D Silva, Sterling, Toure, Aguero, Jesus

Injured: None

Doubtful: Kompany, Gundogan

Suspended: None

Form guide: DWWWWW

Crystal Palace

Manager: Roy Hodgson

Squad (from): Speroni, Hennessey, Ward, van Aanholt, Tomkins, Dann, Souare, Fosu-Mensah, Sakho, Delaney, Schlupp, Kelly, Cabaye, Townsend, Chung-yong, McArthur, Kaikai, Sako, Milivojevic, Puncheon, Benteke, Mutch, Loftus-Cheek

Injured: Zaha, Wickham

Doubtful:

Suspended: None

Form guide: LWLLLW

Vincent Kompany is available again for selection, following a calf injury sustained on international duty with Belgium. Ilkay Gundogan is likely to miss out after being susbstituted in the midweek League Cup victory at West Bromwich Albion as a result of a heavy challenge from Claudio Yacob. Vistors Palace have struggled so far this season, but Guardiola has warned his players against complacency.

“It is not easy [to play a struggling team],” Guardiola said. “The competition is so tough. It is important to stay fit, avoid injuries - that is the best way.

“But in the Premier League, every single team can beat the other one.

“I have a lot of respect for Crystal Palace from what I have seen. Against Burnley, they created a lot of chances.

“I showed my players the chances they created in two games. They have quality and we have to be careful.

"The players must know that we could lose that game tomorrow.

“When they know that, we are closer to winning the game.”

City's last home game against the Eagles ended in a 5-0 victory, with David Silva, Vincent Kompany, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Otamendi netting for the Blues. Overall City have won 30 of the 57 games played against Palace, with 12 draws and 15 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Mendy, Fernandinho, D Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Jesus, Aguero

Score prediction: City 4 Palace 0