Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City: Citizens Eye Top Spot In Friday Night Test at Selhurst Park
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Battle Of The New Bosses: Sage Hoping to Stall Maresca’s Momentum
Matchday 2 in the 2026-27 Premier League season kicks off under the floodlights at Selhurst Park tonight, with new bosses Pierre Sage and Enzo Maresca set to cross paths for the first time in England’s top flight. Check out our Crystal Palace vs Manchester City prediction.
Sage faces a daunting home debut here, with the Eagles desperate to bounce back from an uninspiring 2-0 opening-day loss to Everton, where their wasteful attack ultimately cost them what should have been at least a point on Merseyside.
Palace generated 1.96 xG and four big chances against Everton but failed to find the back of the net!
Enzo Maresca, on the other hand, got his tenure at the Etihad off to a winning start, but it was far from a straightforward victory, as the Citizens needed two dramatic late goals to emerge from their first home game of the season with a 2-1 victory over a plucky Bournemouth.
History heavily favours the visitors here. Man City are unbeaten in their last 11 trips to Selhurst Park in the Premier League (W8 D3), including a 3-0 victory in this exact fixture last season. Indeed, Palace have not beaten this opponent on home soil in the top flight since April 2015 (2-1).
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City: Key Stats:
- Crystal Palace have won just two of their last 22 EPL matches against Man City
- Crystal Palace are winless in their last eight EPL matches since April 20
- Man City are unbeaten in their last 11 EPL away matches against Crystal Palace
- Man City have won just four of their 10 away league matches in 2026 (D5 L1)
- Erling Haaland has scored in all five of his previous EPL matches against Crystal Palace
Player Focus: Marc Guehi Returns to South London in New Role & the Rayan Cherki Factor
Former Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi returns to Selhurst Park tonight for the first time since joining Manchester City, and he is likely to step out on his old stomping ground in a completely new role under Maresca.
As discussed in our Premier League predictions, squad rotation under City’s new boss saw Guehi deployed as a holding midfielder against Bournemouth, but it was a position he adapted to brilliantly, earning Player of the Match honours and rescuing his side with an 85th-minute equaliser in the 2-1 victory.
Ahead of tonight’s kickoff, the England international credited his adaptation to the new role to tactical training with Maresca and the reassuring presence of his teammates. Speaking to the media about his midfield evolution, Guehi said:
"I felt good and comfortable. There was a lot of work on the training pitch with the manager in the week before. I'm fortunate enough to have so many good teammates around me to help me feel at ease to step into that position. It was really enjoyable"
While Guehi looks set to anchor the Citizens' structure in the engine room, French playmaker Rayan Cherki enters tonight’s match as the ultimate wildcard after a dazzling, game-changing cameo off the bench against the Cherries last weekend.
The 23-year-old was the catalyst behind City’s dramatic comeback, providing two world-class assists - first delivering the precise corner for Guehi’s header, followed by a perfectly weighted pass to set up Josko Gvardiol’s 91st-minute stoppage-time winner.
Cherki made it visibly clear to the coaching staff that he was unhappy starting the season on the bench, and whether Maresca rewards his last performance with a spot in the starting XI or continues to use him as a second-half weapon tonight remains uncertain.
