Manchester City aim for their eighth win in a row when they host Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium

Photo: Manchester Evening News

Can Pep Guardiola’s side make it eight wins in a row as they welcome Crystal Palace to the Etihad on Sunday?

Both teams come into this game having played two games in quick concession. Man City extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches in all competitions when they beat Brighton on Wednesday. The Citizens also scored three first-half goals against Championship side Birmingham City to go through to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup.

Phil Foden was once again the star of the show, his breakthrough finish on the stroke of half-time wrapped up all three points for Pep Guardiola’s side. The 20-year-old drifted past the Brighton defence and rolled the ball past Robert Sanchez.

The midfielder has had a massive impact this season. Having already scored eight goals, the teenager is now Man City’s leading goal scorer and with the Manchester club up in third place in the league. Only four points separate them from rivals Manchester United with City having a game in hand over their Manchester rivals.

The Eagles crashed out of the FA Cup to Premier League side Wolves but responded well to earn a point at Arsenal in midweek, with the South London club in 13th, 11 points clear of the relegation zone

A clean sheet was just the third time that Crystal Palace achieved this in their last 26 league games, but an away league win drought continues, with the last win on their travels coming in June. Roy Hodgson’s side had chances to grab all three points but his team lacked quality in the final third.

Crystal Palace will hope they can continue their unbeaten run of two games, having won against struggling Sheffield United and drawing against Arsenal.

Eberechi Eze has been influential this season and one of Crystal Palace’s best players following his £17m move from QPR in the summer. The midfielder completed more take-ons and created more chances than any other player at the Emirates.

The Eagles will be hoping to avoid defeat, like they did the last time they visited the Etihad Stadium, drawing 2-2 in 2020 and winning 3-2 in 2018. The last time Man City were victorious was in 2017 when they won 5-0.

Team News 

Both teams are to be without key players for the game on Sunday. Centre-backs Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake will be absent as they continue to recover from their injury, whilst Sergio Aguero looks likely to be unavailable again he continues to self-isolate.

Eric Garcia is expected to be in the squad and ready for selection. The Man City manager has confirmed that he is “unsure” whether the defender will still be a Manchester City player at the end of the window with Barcelona interested in the Spaniard.

Crystal Palace will be without Mamadou Sakho with Roy Hodgson fearing he could be sidelined for weeks following his thigh injury in the FA Cup defeat to Wolves.

Wayne Hennessey, Nathan Fergurson and Conor Wickham all out with injuries but Scott Dann and Gary Cahill could return back from their thigh and hamstring problems