Timetable | 15:00 GMT, 16th Dec 23 |
Prediction | Man City to Win! |
Odds | 1.18 |
Bookmaker | Lunubet Sports |
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Whisper it quietly, but Manchester City may have returned to some kind of form after a run of four games without a win in the Premier League. After all, they’ve defeated Luton and Red Star Belgrade on the road in the previous week, all without the services of the injured Norwegian forward Erling Haaland. The EPL top scorer may return to the fold for the visit of Crystal Palace, who have won just two of their last 10 Premier League games and remain among the lowest EPL scorers in 2023/24. But will City demonstrate their superiority here, and what odds are the recommended sports betting sites offering on a win for the Eagles?
🏆 Man City vs Crystal Palace EPL Prediction
These two sides have met on 69 previous occasions, with Man City prevailing 37 times and Palace claiming 17 wins in total (15 matches have ended in draws). However, the Eagles have won just two of the last 18 encounters since April 2015, with City earning 15 victories during the same period of time.
Despite City’s recent issues and four-match winless run, the side remains one of the most consistent and attack-oriented sides in the top flight. In fact, they’re the most efficient in front of goal, with the predatory instincts of the aforementioned Haaland helping Pep Guardiola’s men to outperform their xG value of 30.6 by an impressive +6.5 goals.
Not only have Palace underperformed their own xG value by -4.4 goals, but their current tally of 15 goals is the second lowest in this season’s EPL (only Sheffield United have scored fewer). During their current winless streak of five matches, they’ve only scored five times, while incurring worrying defeats against Everton, Luton and Bournemouth.
So, while Palace remains defensively well-organised and has won an impressive 52.7% of their tackles this season, their lack of form and cutting edge will play right into City’s hands at the Etihad. The defending EPL champions have also won 51.7% of their tackles in 2023/24, so I’m tipping City to dominate from the outset and ultimately record a comfortable win.
My Prediction: 🏆 Man City 3 – 0 Crystal Palace ⚽
💯 Man City vs Crystal Palace EPL Match Odds
Regardless of whether you want to stake your hard-earned cash or have one or more free bets that you’d like to deploy, there are countless Man City vs Crystal Palace wagering markets available. I’ll analyse the three most popular below, while appraising the very latest odds.
🏅 Man City vs Crystal Palace: Match Winner
To say that City are the favourites is an understatement, with an average price of 1.17 implying an 85.47% probability of Guardiola’s side winning in front of their own fans. Conversely, Palace can be backed at around 14.00, which means that they have just a 7.14% chance of beating City at the Etihad for only the third time since December 1990.
Team | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Man City to Win | 1.17 | 1.18 | 1.17 | 1.14 | 1.17 |
Crystal Palace to Win | 15.00 | 13.00 | 14.00 | 15.00 | 13.00 |
Draw | 7.00 | 7.50 | 7.25 | 7.00 | 7.50 |
⚽ Man City vs Crystal Palace: Both Teams To Score
The sportsbooks featured in Betinireland’s bookmaker reviews also enable you to bet on BTTS (or not). This season, both sides have scored in 10 of City’s 16 EPL games, with Guardiola’s men keeping four clean sheets and drawing two blanks in front of goal. Both teams have found the net in eight of Palace’s 16 Premier League encounters, with the Eagles having kept five clean sheers and failed to score on five occasions.
Team | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yes | 2.15 | 2.20 | 2.16 | 2.20 | 2.10 |
No | 1.62 | 1.67 | 1.65 | 1.62 | 1.67 |
🥅 Man City vs Crystal Palace: Over/Under 2.5 Goals
Manchester City and Crystal Palace have contested 43 matches in all competitions this season, including the former’s six Champions League contests. These encounters have produced 133 goals at a rate of 3.09 per game, so it’s no surprise that the odds imply a higher probability of over 2.5 goals being scored. However, City are clearly favourites to dominate the scoring at the Etihad.
Under/Over | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Over 2.5 Goals | 1.40 | 1.45 | 1.42 | 1.44 | 1.44 |
Under 2.5 Goals | 2.60 | 2.70 | 2.67 | 2.75 | 2.63 |
✔️ Man City vs Crystal Palace - Betting Tips
While you may be tempted to use an available free bet to engage in matched betting here, this strategy doesn’t offer optimal value in games that feature a short price favourites. So, here are some alternative betting tips to help you successfully navigate the available City vs Palace markets!
- Tip 1: Back City to Win With a Handicap of -2.5 Goals: City could only edge Luton by a single goal last week, but they did score three at Red Star Belgrade with a weakened starting 11 in the Champions League. They’re also prolific at home, finding the net 29 times in just nine matches at the Etihad in all competitions. Erling Haaland, who has 14 EPL goals from an xG value of 14.8 this season, should also return from injury, so there’s value in backing City to win with a handicap of -2.5 goals at a price of 2.30 with TonyBet Sports.
- Tip 2: Back Man City to Win to Nil: City’s status as huge favourites means that there’s little value in backing both teams not to score at the Etihad. However, you can unlock superior value when betting on City to beat Palace to nil, at an enhanced price of 1.80 with Betway. This certainly reflects Palace’s woes in front of goal, and while top EPL scorer Odsonne Édouard has six goals to his name this season, only two of these have come in the last 11 top flight games. To compound matters, he may even miss out with a knee injury too.
- Tip 3: Back Man City to Win and Both Teams Not to Score: Another way of creating enhanced value is by engaging in combination betting. For example, you can back Man City to win and both teams not to score at a price of 1.85 with LegendPlay Sports, enabling you to simultaneously wager on two outcomes that both have a high implied probability of occurring.
1️⃣ Man City Update
Unusually, you have to look way down the Premier League form table to catch a glimpse of Manchester City, who have only won four of their last 10 top flight matches and taken just 15 points from the 30 available to them during this run. They’ve already lost four matches in all competitions this season too, having only tasted defeat on seven occasions during their treble winning campaign in 2022/23. However, they remain strong at home and are unbeaten in 18 EPL games at the Etihad Stadium, since a 2-1 defeat against Brentford on November 12th, 2022. In all competitions, they’re unbeaten in a whopping 28 matches in front of their own fans!
Last 5 Games | |
---|---|
Red Star Belgrade 2 Man City 3 | 13.12.23 Champions League |
Luton 1 Man City 2 | 10.12.23 Premier League |
Aston Villa 1 Man City 0 | 06.12.23 Premier League |
Man City 3 Tottenham 3 | 03.12.23 Premier League |
Man City 3 RB Leipzig 2 | 28.11.23 Champions League |
The return of Haaland has all but been confirmed by Pep Guardiola, so the Norwegian is likely to start against Palace. John Stones is now back to full fitness too and will slot in alongside Rodri in central midfield, although explosive winger Jeremy Doku is likely to miss out with a muscle injury. Kevin De Bruyne remains a long-term absentee with a partial muscle tear, while reserve keeper Zack Steffen is continuing his recovery after knee surgery.
Player | Reason |
---|---|
Jeremy Doku | Muscle Injury |
Kevin De Bruyne | Partial Muscle Tear |
Zack Steffen | Knee Surgery |
2️⃣ Crystal Palace Update
For their part, Palace are 16th in the EPL form table, having won two of their last 10 league games (and none of their previous five) and taken just eight points from the 30 available to them since September 23rd. However, the good news for the Eagles and their fans is that the side has performed better on the road so far in 2023/24, earning 11 of their 16 points away from Selhurst Park. Conversely, they’ve only won once and taken just five points at home, with this arguably reflecting their preference for playing counterattacking football and opponents who look to dominate possession.
Last 5 Games | |
---|---|
Crystal Palace 1 Liverpool 2 | 09.12.23 Premier League |
Crystal Palace 0 Bournemouth 2 | 06.12.23 Premier League |
West Ham 1 Crystal Palace 1 | 03.12.23 Premier League |
Luton Town 2 Crystal Palace 1 | 25.11.23 Premier League |
Crystal Palace 2 Everton 3 | 11.11.23 Premier League |
While Tyrick Mitchell may recover from a hip injury in time for the trip to City, Palace could be without up to nine first-team players at the Etihad. These include goalkeepers Dean Henderson (torn thigh muscle) and Sam Johnstone (calf injury), while midfielder Cheick Doucoure has been ruled out for the season following an Achilles tendon rupture. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is also out with a hamstring strain, while playmaker Eberechi Eze is a major doubt with an ankle injury. Top scorer Odsonne Edouard (knee) and midfielder Jefferson Lerma (thigh) will face late fitness tests too, while Rob Holding (ankle) is set to miss out. Jordan Ayew is also suspended after being sent off in the defeat against Liverpool.
Player | Reason |
---|---|
Dean Henderson | Torn Thigh Muscle |
Sam Johnstone | Calf Injury |
Cheick Doucoure | Achilles Tendon Rupture |
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi | Hamstring Injury |
Eberechi Eze | Ankle Injury |
Odsonne Edouard | Knee Injury |
Jefferson Lerma | Thigh Injury |
Rob Holding | Ankle Injury |
Jordan Ayew | Suspended |
👕 Man City vs Crystal Palace - Potential Lineups
Pos. | Man City 3-2-4-1 | Crystal Palace 4-3-3 | Pos. |
---|---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Ederson | R. Matthews | Goalkeeper |
Right Centre Back | K. Walker | J. Ward | Right Back |
Centre Back | R. Dias | J. Andersen | Centre Back |
Left Centre Back | N. Ake | M. Guéhi | Centre Back |
Defensive Midfielder | J. Stones | T. Mitchell | Left Back |
Defensive Midfielder | Rodri | W. Hughes | Midfielder |
Right Midfielder | P. Foden | C. Richards | Midfielder |
Attacking Midfielder | J. Alvarez | N. Ahamada | Midfielder |
Attacking Midfielder | B. Silva | M. Olise | Wide Forward |
Left Midfielder | J. Grealish | Jean-Philippe Mateta | Striker |
Striker | E. Haaland | J. Schlupp | Wide Forward |
✒️ Lewis Humphries – Expert Tipster
Lewis Humphries is an experienced football writer and tipster from the UK. He writes regularly about the Champions League, Premier League, Serie A and other competitions, regularly delivering expert match predictions and betting insights. He also successfully predicted the winner of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while accurately forecasting the outcome of several group stage and knockout games.