Preview, line-ups, stats, where to watch, TV channel, live online stream and Premier League prediction

Crystal Palace v Manchester City Premier League preview

Two new managers finding their feet will go head-to-head on Friday when Crystal Palace host Manchester City at Selhurst Park in their first Premier League home game of the season.

The Eagles will be looking to bounce back from their opening-day defeat, while the Citizens will be hoping to maintain their winning start under new boss Enzo Maresca.

Palace’s last two seasons ended in historic fashion under former boss Oliver Glasner, who guided the club to FA Cup and Conference League glory before leaving Pierre Sage with a difficult act to follow.

While it would be unfair to expect the former Lens boss to immediately replicate Glasner’s achievements, Palace face a difficult task this week against one of English football’s most dominant sides.

Sage’s tenure began with a 2-0 defeat away to Everton, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry scoring either side of half-time.

The Eagles will need to be more clinical against City if they are to avoid another defeat. Palace have lost six of their last 10 meetings with the Citizens, winning just once during that run – although that victory came in one of the biggest games in the club’s history, a 1-0 win in the 2025 FA Cup final.

Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City are entering their first season of the post-Pep Guardiola era, and although their opening Premier League performance was far from convincing, they came away with all three points.

City responded to their 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield by beating Bournemouth 2-1 last Sunday.

Crystal Palace v Man City team news

Palace will again be without Ismaila Sarr, who continues to train individually while recovering from a groin injury. Dwight McNeil and Eddie Nketiah could therefore start behind Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Centre-back Chadi Riad is also sidelined with a knee injury, with Jaydee Canvot, Chris Richards and Takehiro Tomiyasu expected to form the defensive trio.

Manchester City are without Jeremy Doku as he continues his recovery from a calf problem.

Phil Foden, Nico O’Reilly and Antoine Semenyo are expected to form the attacking three behind Erling Haaland in Doku’s absence.

Midfielder Elliot Anderson is a doubt as he recovers from a thigh injury. If he is unavailable, Mateo Kovacic could partner Marc Guehi in the double pivot.

Crystal Palace v Manchester City predicted line ups

Crystal Palace predicted starting XI: Henderson; Canvot, Richards, Tomiyasu; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; McNeil, Nketiah; Mateta

Manchester City predicted starting XI: Donnarumma; Lewis, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Guehi; Foden, O’Reilly, Semenyo; Haaland

Crystal Palace v Man City stats, recent form

• Palace have won two of their last 22 Premier League games against Man City (D5 L15, and are winless in nine against them since a 2-0 away victory in October 2021
• They are without a victory in their last eight Premier League games (D3 L5); since returning to the top-flight in 2013/14, only in February last season (9), March 2023 (12), and April 2016 (14) have the Eagles endured longer winless runs in the competition
• On matchday one of this season’s Premier League, only Brighton & Hove Albion recorded more high turnovers (19) and had a lower Passes Per Defensive Action count (4.9) than Crystal Palace managed against Everton (15 high turnovers, 6.9 PPDA)
• Only Brighton (3.54) recorded a higher open play expected goals (xG) tally on matchday one than Crystal Palace (1.96), with the Eagles the biggest underachievers last season (-12.9) between goals from open play (22 excluding own goals) and open play xG (34.9)
• Only two players recorded more line-breaking passes in the final third on matchday one than Palace’s Adam Wharton (13), as well as winning possession eight times, which was the joint-third most of any player
• City are unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League away games against Crystal Palace (W8 D3) since a 2-1 loss in April 2015 under Manuel Pellegrini
• They have won four of their 10 Premier League away matches in 2026 (D5 L1), while Enzo Maresca failed to win any of his final three away league games with former club Chelsea (D2 L1)
• After winning seven of his first 12 Premier League games against sides starting with a back three or five (D2 L3), Maresca has since won four of his last 10 (D2 L4), suffering defeats in three of his previous five such games
• Erling Haaland has scored in all five of his Premier League games against Crystal Palace, netting eight goals in total for the best 100% scoring record a player has against an opponent in the competition
• The only players to net in each of their first six against a side are Raheem Sterling and Mohamed Salah (both vs Bournemouth)
• Twelve of Rayan Cherki’s Premier League assists have come from open play, including for Josko Gvardiol’s winner on matchday one against Bournemouth
• Since the start of last season, Cherki leads the league for open play assists and is second for open play expected assists (8.2) and through balls (30)

Where to watch Palace v Man City: TV channel, live online streams

Kick-off on Friday is at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra.

Via Now TV, Sky Sports costs £14.99 for a day membership, £27.99 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.

Crystal Palace v Manchester City Premier League prediction

Crystal Palace

1 – 2

Manchester City

Palace were beaten by Everton but created enough chances to find the net, and they could trouble City if they are more clinical in front of goal.

However, the visitors should have enough attacking quality to edge a close contest at Selhurst Park, even if they concede for the third time in three matches under Maresca.