For the first time in a long time, Manchester City enters the weekend looking up the table at someone. Arsenal, led by a former Manchester City assistant coach and featuring two players sold by City this summer, has risen to the top of the Premier League table. After dropping points against Newcastle last week, City will be determined not to do so again this week against Crystal Palace. Before we get into this match, there’s some Man City news to go over.
They’ll be in Group G, along with Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund, and Copenhagen. Sounds like a solid group. Now, on to the weekend fixture.
Manchester City vs Crystal Palace FYIs
Kick: Sat Aug 27, 3 pm, City of Manchester Stadium
Team News for Both Sides: go here
After Extra Time Podcast: Spotify Apple
PL Position: Manchester City 2nd, 7pts Crystal Palace 9th, 4pts
Form Guide: Manchester City DWW Crystal Palace WDL
Google Result Probability: Manchester City 82% Crystal Palace 6% Draw 12%
Manchester City injuries
Aymeric Laporte (knee) has yet to feature this season, and it will be a few weeks yet until he does so. Benjamin Mendy remains suspended, as he stands trial for multiple sex crimes. 100 million GBP man Jack Grealish (knee) and Nathan Ake (groin injury suffered last week) are doubts.
That means Ruben Dias and John Stones are the last two remaining central defenders that are fully fit and available.
Flipping over to Palace, they will be without the services of four players: James McArthur (groin), James Tomkins (undisclosed), Jack Butland (hand), Nathan Ferguson (foot)
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Bank (TheSportsBank.Net) and author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” as well as “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated, and the Chicago Tribune, and he co-hosts the After Extra Time podcast, part of Edge of the Crowd Network. Follow him and the website on Twitter and Instagram.
