English Premier
2025-12-14 - Crystal Palace vs Manchester City
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 14th December 2025 - Kick Off 2pm
This game is live on TV
Crystal Palace
Reports have linked Oliver Glasner with potentially big roles that could become vacant in the summer, especially as his own contract as manager of Crystal Palace continues to wind down. Despite that, Glasner and his squad are all seemingly on the same page and this has been a very productive first half of the season.
The manager will be looking for the board to back him in January and bring in reinforcements with Crystal Palace likely to still be fighting on three fronts and potentially on four fronts, depending on how the League Cup Quarter Final at Arsenal goes. The Eagles are 4th in the Premier League table and it does feel like a big opportunity has opened up for Crystal Palace, even if Glasner has made it clear that the summer transfer activity, or lack thereof, has been a problem.
Crystal Palace were comfortable 0-3 winners at Shelbourne on Thursday evening and they have won 3 in a row in all competitions. This will be the first time they are playing back at Selhurst Park since Manchester United ended Crystal Palace's 3 game unbeaten run here by coming from behind in a 1-2 win.
Changes were made to the starting lineup for the Conference League tie that was played on Thursday and Jean-Philippe Mateta should be available. There is an outside hope that Ismaila Sarr can also play a part before heading away with Senegal at the African Cup of Nations, but Daniel Munoz has been ruled out until the New Year.
Manchester City
They did more than enough to deserve to earn the three points at Real Madrid in the Champions League during the week and Manchester City have also closed the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal last weekend. Pep Guardiola's experience tells him that nothing is won yet, but he has to be pleased with the positioning of his Manchester City team ahead of a busy three weeks of action.
The win over Sunderland came just hours after Arsenal had been beaten at Aston Villa and it means Manchester City are just 2 points behind The Gunners. That gap should be wider at kick off considering Arsenal host Wolves on Saturday night, but Manchester City should only be focusing on improving the 3-1-3 away record in the top flight.
Manchester City had a couple of big setbacks out of the November international break, but they have suddenly won 4 in a row in all competitions. The side have won 3 of the last 4 away games in all competitions, although just one of those was in Premier League action.
John Stones and Rodri are set to miss out.
Head to Head
Manchester City took four points from Crystal Palace in the Premier League last season, but it was the latter who won in the FA Cup Final.
Crystal Palace have not won any of the last 11 home games against Manchester City- they had lost 2 in a row at Selhurst Park against them, but earned a 2-2 draw last season.
Prediction
The squad depth has been a concern for Oliver Glasner all season and Crystal Palace will need to address that in January if the manager is going to be appeased.
It does not help the mood that the squad is being hit hard by injuries and with players about to leave for the African Cup of Nations- both Daniel Munoz and Ismaila Sarr have been vital for the Crystal Palace success, but are set to miss several more matches.
Oliver Glasner was able to rest some important names in the win over Shelbourne in the Conference League on Thursday, which will help, but it cannot be ignored that Crystal Palace have struggled to maintain intensity in the Premier League days after playing in that UEFA competition.
That was the case in the Crystal Palace home defeat to Manchester United as they perhaps ran out of legs in the second half and it is a concern when facing Manchester City this Sunday.
Pep Guardiola's men have picked up some solid form, and they are much more experienced at playing big European games and Premier League matches days later. Manchester City also have a bit more time to rest and prepare and there is a greater depth in the squad that gives them the edge as they look to earn revenge for the FA Cup Final defeat last May.
There will be a lot of respect for what Crystal Palace bring into this fixture, but Manchester City do have a long unbeaten run at Selhurst Park.
Winning games is never easy here and Crystal Palace will be encouraged by the challenges that Aston Villa and Newcastle United have given Manchester City in recent Premier League games.
The Eagles can certainly do that here and in the 3 Premier League games between Crystal Palace and Manchester City managed by the current incumbents have all ended with at least three goals shared out. That looks likely to be the case again on Sunday in a big fixture for the two top four placed clubs and a 2-1 win either way would not be a huge surprise.
A narrow lean has to be with Manchester City who can perhaps maintain their intensity for longer, but Crystal Palace will not be intimidated by the visiting team and won't take a backwards step.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester City
