Preview & Prediction: Crystal Palace vs Manchester City

You would have got long odds on this fixture being a clash between the top two, but fine starts by both mean that is the case at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Palace come into the match full of confidence after defeating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last time out, but will be without their match-winner that day Joel Ward, who is out for a month with a knee injury.

Connor Wickham is a doubt for Alan Pardew’s side and Marouane Chamakh is out, but in brighter news for the Eagles their France international midfielder Yohan Cabaye has recovered from a groin strain and goalkeeper Julian Speroni is fit to appear for the first time this season.

Pardew’s men have had a flying start to this season, winning three of their first four games including that famous success at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago. They beat Manchester City in this fixture last season, and the visitors will be under no illusions about the difficulty of the challenge that faces them.

For the visitors, new club-record signing Kevin De Bruyne is in line to make his debut having arrived for £55m in the closing days of the transfer window. City will need him to slot in instantly, as David Silva – who has been in scintillating form so far this season – picked up an injury playing for Spain and will not feature in south London.

Fabian Delph pulled his hamstring within seconds of England’s clash with Switzerland on Tuesday and will be out for six weeks, but Bacary Sagna has recovered from an ankle knock.

City have been superb so far this season and come into the match with four wins from four, with 10 goals scored and not one yet conceded, a record that is all the more impressive given they have played Chelsea and visited Everton.

Raheem Sterling netted his first goal for the club against Watford and will look to add to his tally, whilst Sergio Aguero scored twice for Argentina over the international break so will be full of confidence.

League Position: Crystal Palace – 2nd (9 pts); Manchester City – 1st (12 pts)
Last Meeting: Crystal Palace 2-1 Manchester City – April 9, 2015
Key Men: Crystal Palace – Bakary Sako; Manchester City – Sergio Aguero
Form: Crystal Palace – WLWW; Manchester City – WWWW

Shoot Says: Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester City