Midfield battle and late threats give Man City reason to worry vs Crystal Palace

Manchester City will continue their pursuit of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League on Saturday with a visit to the capital to face Crystal Palace. City are currently five points off the top of the Premier League, with Pep Guardiola’s men likely to be required to put together the type of winning run we saw in 2018/19’s title race if they are to retain the title.

Palace come into the game without a win in 2023, with five draws and five losses in their last 10 matches in all competitions. Despite this run, Palace sit 12th in the Premier League, five points ahead of 18th-placed Everton. City haven’t lost at Selhurst Park since 2015, but since then they have been handed defeat by the Eagles at the Etihad Stadium twice, most recently a 2-0 loss in October 2021.

Crystal Palace are boosted by the return of Wilfried Zaha who played for the first time since January last weekend, but Palace are far from a one-man band.

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Here’s who City fans will have to look out for.

A player with bags of potential, Michael Olise has been at the forefront of most things positive for Palace this season. The 21-year-old traditionally plays off the right, but his vision and passing range make him at home playing just off the striker. Whilst Olise is known more for his playmaking abilities rather than his goalscoring prowess, when he does find the net it’s often in the biggest moments.

Both of Olise’s Premier League goals this campaign have been in second-half injury time, with a 94th-minute winner at the London Stadium and more recently a superb equalising free-kick against Manchester United. Only Zaha has more goals and assists than Olise for Palace this season,