Manchester City will look to get back into the Premier League’s top five ahead of the rest of the competition as they face Crystal Palace in Saturday’s early kick-off.
It has been confirmed that the Premier League will have an additional Champions League spot, meaning the top five will qualify for Europe’s premier club competition.
This will make Manchester City’s life easier, although they’re currently sixth in the table and still have a lot of work to do to get over the line.
City will be up against an in-form Crystal Palace side that could move up to 46 points – seven points behind the top five with seven games left – should they triumph at the Etihad Stadium.
Chris Sutton has now predicted how Pep Guardiola’s side will fare against Oliver Glasner’s side as he delivered a brutal verdict over the hosts’ situation over the past 12 months.
Chris Sutton suggests Manchester City are no longer watchable but predicts 2-1 win over Crystal Palace
Sutton acknowledged that City could have problems against a well-balance Palace side currently in better form than Guardiola’s side.
The pundit also expressed concern at how far he feels City have fallen in the past 12 months, to the point that he’d close his curtains if they were playing outside his garden.
However, Sutton also felt City will have enough to get over the line against Palace, predicting a 2-1 win for the still-reigning Premier League champions.
“Crystal Palace are a really well-balanced team who can cause Manchester City all sorts of problems with their 3-4-3 formation,” Sutton began on BBC Sport.
“Even though Marc Guehi and Eddie Nketiah are suspended after being sent off against Brighton last week.
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“The Eagles are in better form than Pep Guardiola’s side too, with four wins and a draw from their past five league games – City have only won twice in the same period.
“I still cannot move away from a City win, however. I still expect them to win these kind of games at home, even if they are miles away from being the team they were 12 months ago.
“We saw more evidence of that last week, because Sunday’s Manchester derby was probably the dullest derby game I have ever watched.
“You think about when Guardiola came over, and how he transformed the game. For years, City were so watchable.
“Now, if they were playing in my back garden I would close the curtains – although that would be a bit harsh on Palace.”
Sutton is entitled to his opinion, but many City fans would probably say an unwatchable City side still very much in the picture for Champions League football is preferable to, say, being an exciting side that neutrals love, but sitting 14th in the table…
Paul Merson also predicted a winning result for City against Palace.
Manchester City v Crystal Palace team news
Manchester City have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the Palace game.
Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Erling Haaland, Rodri and John Stones remain sidelined for Guardiola’s side.
Crystal Palace will be without Marc Guehi and Eddie Nketiah, who are suspended following their red cards against Brighton last weekend.
Defenders Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards are available to Glasner for the game, but Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure remain long-term absentees.
