Manchester City vs Crystal Palace: Premier League match preview

Champions look to close gap on leaders Chelsea

Manuel Pellegrini gives Frank Lampard instructions before bringing him on (Getty Images)

Manchester City will look to make it eight wins in a row when they come up against 16-placed Crystal Palace in the early kick-off on Saturday afternoon.

It is the first of four fixtures in 12 days for both teams and the two managers will be well aware of the importance of not dropping points at such a crucial period of the season.

With Chelsea playing on Monday evening, City will look to increase the pressure on their rivals with a victory which would see them level on points with the west London club.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 12.45pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Crystal Palace 0 Man City 2 (Dzeko, Y Touré), Premier League, April 2014

Man City 1 (Dzeko) Crystal Palace 0, Premier League, December 2013

Crystal Palace 0 Man City 2 (Wright-Phillips, Tevez), League Cup, August 2009

STATS…

Crystal Palace have a miserable record when facing City – without a victory against them since December 2001, contested in the second-tier of English football.

Man City have won the second most league fixtures this season (11); while Crystal Palace have won the joint second-least fixtures (3).

Crystal Palace are without a goal against Man City since January 2005.

Man City will be without their captain Vincent Kompany and leading-scorer Sergio Agüero for the fixture – both out with injuries.

ODDS…

Man City to win: 1.28

Crystal Palace to win: 12.0

Draw: 5.50

TV: Live on BT Sports 1 at 12.45pm, highlights on BBC1 at 10.20pm