CRYSTAL PALACE host Manchester City in Saturday's evening Premier League kick-off. Chris Clark (@ChrisClark1975) shares his verdict.
Crystal Palace v Manchester City | Saturday 19th October 2019, 17:30 | Sky Sports
The Saturday night Premier League is an interesting encounter, with Pep Guardioal's increasingly open Man City travelling to Roy Hodgson's obdurate Eagles.
With a lot of pre-season fears that Palace might struggle this season, Roy's boys have proved the complete opposite, and if they were to upset City on Saturday evening, they could reach as high as second in the league. Can Palace do it though? Personally I can't see it, but what the Eagles will prove to be is an incredibly tough nut to crack.
Apart from one half at Tottenham, in which they shipped four, Palace have been miserly. They've only conceded eight goals in eight games. In fact at Selhurst Park they've only conceded once so far, and that was a Diego Jota 95th minute equaliser. Taking this into account, I cannot see any value in the prices being offered on Man City to coast to victory here.
Haven't the bookies watched City's last two away league games? That crazy game at Norwich and that trip to Goodison in which City gave up chance after chance.
So where is the value? Well City are giving up chances in the league now. That injury to Aymeric Laporte has really disrupted Pep's plan. He's had to pull Fernandinho out of midfield and shuffle him back into defence. Fernandindo is a key miss in midfield, and whilst Rodri is a good player, he's no Fernandinho. John Stones is back in training, but remember he also played in that game at Carrow Road.
Stones won't be shoring anything up if he plays. So it's worth noting that Jordan Ayew currently has eight shots on-target, in the eight league games played so far. With City giving up chances at back, Ayew is worth a look to have one shot on target at 6/4 with Paddy Power.
Followers of my previews will remember that Teemi Pukki didn't let us down with the shots on target bet against City. It's well worth backing the opposition's centre forward to have a shot on target when City are without Laporte.
Another interesting angle is take a look at the return of Luka Milivojevic to the Palace team. An integral member of Roy's team, but a lad who get's booked a lot. He's returning from suspension after picking up five bookings already this season. He leads the way in fouls in the Premier League this season with 19 (and he's missed a game!)
With Luka at the base of that Palace midfield up against the fleet-footed, David Silva, Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Kevin De Bruyne. Take your pick he's going to foul one of them! Milivojevic is 85/40 with Bet Victor to get booked.
Best Bets
Crystal Palace v Manchester City – Jordan Ayew to have at least one shot on-target (6/4 Paddy Power)
Crystal Palace v Manchester City – Luka Milivojevic to be carded (85/40 Bet Victor)
