At Selhurst Park on 14 December 2025, Crystal Palace host Manchester City in a Premier League fixture that brings together one of the season’s most pleasant surprises and a reigning powerhouse pushing hard toward the top of the table.
Prediction: Both Teams to Score – Yes
This matchup points toward an open and competitive contest rather than a one-sided affair. Crystal Palace’s attacking confidence at home and Manchester City’s attacking firepower, combined with some defensive inconsistency on the road, create strong conditions for goals at both ends.
Crystal Palace Growing in Belief and Ambition
Crystal Palace enter the round sitting fourth in the standings, underlining the progress they have made this season. Despite suffering their first home defeat of the campaign in a narrow 2-1 loss to Manchester United, their overall home record remains solid, with four of seven league matches ending in draws. Palace have shown they can compete with elite opposition, including a 2-2 home draw against Manchester City exactly a year ago. Midweek rotation did not disrupt their rhythm either, as they secured a convincing 3-0 away win over Shelbourne in the Conference League, further boosting confidence and momentum.
Manchester City Chasing Consistency Away from Home
Manchester City arrive in strong overall form, having won four consecutive matches in all competitions. Their midweek 2-1 away victory over Real Madrid highlighted both quality and resilience, while domestically they have moved to within two points of the league summit. However, away consistency in the Premier League remains a question. Although their dramatic 5-4 win at Fulham showed attacking potency, City are still searching for back-to-back away wins in the league, often leaving space when pushing aggressively for control.
