Crystal Palace v Man City predictions: Expect slow burner at Selhurst Park

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Crystal Palace v Manchester City in the Premier League on Monday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 8pm Monday

Best bet

Second half to be highest-scoring half
1pt 21-20 bet365, Betfred

Jean-Philippe Mateta to score at any time
1pt 5-1 bet365

Team news

Crystal Palace
Nathan Ferguson and James McArthur are both sidelined, while Joel Ward is also a doubt.

Man City
Ruben Dias is injured and Benjamin Mendy remains suspended by the club.

Match preview

Crystal Palace are one of only two clubs to have beaten title-chasing Manchester City in the Premier League this season and they can again play their part in a competitive affair when the sides reconvene at Selhurst Park.

With ten league games remaining this season, Palace are nestled in mid-table and have an FA Cup quarter-final with Everton to look forward at the weekend.

Patrick Vieira has made a strong start to life as a manager in England's top flight and among his greatest achievements with Palace so far was October's 2-0 success at the Etihad.

The Eagles were a danger on the counter attack in that contest and that will again surely be their best way of approaching domineering City on Monday.

But it could take time for opportunities to present themselves and the best betting approach to this match could be to back the second half to be the highest-scoring.

Palace are more likely to have chances on the break with City legs tiring and 24 of the 39 goals they have scored in the Premier League this term have come after the break.

On the flip side, City's relentless build-up play could take time to wear down a Palace team in good spirits right now.

Vieira's men have won three of their last four matches in all competitions, with their latest triumph coming against a decent Wolves side at Molineux, and that good form makes City an unappealing bet at short odds.

It has the potential to be a high-scoring game and one player who could profit from that is Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Vieira has arguably persisted with Mateta longer than some Palace fans may have liked and it is fair to say the Frenchman has not lit up the division since joining in January last year.

But he was an ever-present threat for Mainz in the Bundesliga and he has looked better at getting into goalscoring positions recently.

In his last two matches against Wolves and Stoke, Mateta has managed a total of nine shots and he got on the scoresheet at Molineux last time out.

He has struck only four times this season but is likely to lead the line this time and looks a good bet at 5-1 to score at Selhurst Park against a City side who have shipped in two of their last three Premier League matches.

Key stat

Both teams have scored in nine of Crystal Palace's 14 home league matches this season.

Inside info

Crystal Palace

Penalty taker Wilfried Zaha
Free-kick wizard Conor Gallagher
Set-piece aerial threat Cheikhou Kouyate
Card magnet Conor Gallagher

Man City

Penalty taker Riyad Mahrez
Free-kick wizardRiyad Mahrez
Set-piece aerial threatJohn Stones
Card magnetFernandinho

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