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Crystal Palace travel to the Etihad Stadium this weekend in the hope that they will inflict an only second Premier League defeat of the season to Manchester City, but they will surely fail to present a challenge to the champions if Roy Hodgson sticks with a bland 4-4-2.
On the chalkboard
The Eagles recorded their first win without Wilfried Zaha since September 2016 – a 3-2 victory over Sunderland – last weekend as they took all three points from a gritty battle with Leicester, courtesy of a super Luka Milivojevic strike, but their biggest test yet is set to come on Saturday.
City have emerged victorious in seven of their last eight clashes with Palace, including two 5-o wins in 2017, but the visitors will be hoping that they can repeat last time’s result: a tense 0-0 draw would surely be fine by the Selhurst Park faithful.
Hodgson has been lining up with a classic 4-4-2 this season without an orthodox striker but Palace’s predictable build up will surely be nullified by the City press, so what can the 71-year-old do to give his side their best chance of success?
Keep faith in Kelly
Martin Kelly was voted man of the match against the Foxes as he filled in comfortably for the suspended James Tomkins, who will now be back for this weekend’s round of fixtures – both should start against Pep Guardiola’s men.
Ability to quickly switch between defensive solidity and attacking threat will be paramount for any kind of result against City – no team in the world can outplay the Cityzens on their day so the Eagles’ opportunities, if any, will surely come on the counter.
A five-man defence accommodates for Kelly, Tomkins and Mamadou Sakho, while wing-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Patrick van Aanholt have the pace and stamina to get up and down the flank all day long – they will be crucial in offering width to a midfield three of Milivojevic, Cheikhou Kouyate and Max Meyer.
Shifting Meyer into a more central role behind the two strikers would enable him to have a more direct impact on his side’s creation, while the industrious Milivojevic and Kouyate would provide defensive cover.
Expect Andros Townsend and Zaha to continue their unorthodox partnership regardless, as Jordan Ayew and Alexander Sorloth have looked apathetic all season. As enticing as this set-up seems, it will surely be too bold a change for Hodgson to make so we could see a drubbing if the former England boss refuses to make any tactical tweaks.
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