Crystal Palace vs Manchester City – Match preview and team news

Crystal Palace host Manchester City at Selhurst Park on Friday in a crucial Premier League clash as both sides look to secure three vital points.

Pierre Sage lost his first game in charge at Everton while Enzo Maresca needed a stoppage-time turnaround to beat Bournemouth in his own opener. City’s recent dominance of this fixture is considerable — just two defeats in their last 22 league meetings with Palace, and no away loss to these opponents in the top flight since April 2015 — but Sage’s side produced enough at Goodison Park to suggest sharper finishing could yield a different outcome here.

The game also carries a personal subplot. Marc Guehi returns to Selhurst Park for the first time since his January move from Palace to City, where he has already made an impact, scoring the equaliser that turned last weekend’s win over Bournemouth. New City signing Ayyoub Bouaddi, an £86 million arrival from Lille, completed this week, could also be involved for the first time since finalising his transfer.

Crystal Palace vs Manchester City – Match preview and team news

Date: Friday, 28 August 2026 Kick-off: 20:00 BST Venue: Selhurst Park Referee: Andy Madley VAR: Stuart Attwell Last meeting: Manchester City 3-0 Crystal Palace, Premier League, 13 May 2026

Team news

Crystal Palace

Ismaila Sarr continues individual training and will again be absent with a groin injury. Chadi Riad remains sidelined after being stretchered off against Everton, with the club fearing a longer-term knee problem. Jean-Philippe Mateta started that game and, despite ongoing uncertainty over his contract, Sage has maintained that the striker’s focus remains on his football and expects him to lead the line again.

Manchester City

Jeremy Doku is unavailable with a calf injury, and Matheus Nunes remains short of full fitness as he continues his recovery. Elliot Anderson, substituted against Bournemouth, has been confirmed fit by Maresca, who attributed the change to cramp rather than injury. Marc Guehi, used in an unfamiliar midfield role against Bournemouth, is expected to retain that position on his return to south London.

Form

Sage’s opening game brought defeat, but Palace’s underlying numbers — 1.96 expected goals to Everton’s 1.12 — suggested a more clinical side could have taken something from Goodison Park. The summer has been complicated by unresolved situations involving Mateta and Sarr, both linked with moves away, which Sage has worked to keep separate from matchday matters. A first home fixture of the season offers a chance to settle into the role in front of his own supporters.

Maresca’s tenure began with a heavy Community Shield defeat to Arsenal before a much-needed response against Bournemouth, City recovering from a goal down through late goals from Guehi and Josko Gvardiol. The new manager is yet to oversee a clean sheet, and City won only two of their final five away league fixtures last season — a pattern he will want to address quickly on the road.

Predicted lineups

Crystal Palace predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Canvot, Richards, Tomiyasu; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; McNeil, Nketiah; Mateta

Manchester City predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Lewis, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Guehi; Foden, O’Reilly, Semenyo; Haaland

How to watch Crystal Palace vs Manchester City?

The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.

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