Crystal Palace v Manchester City: Eagles can at least score against disjointed City

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Friday 27 August, 20:00
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Sage has tough job to keep Eagles flying high

Just as Friday's opponent Enzo Maresca has an incredibly difficult task in trying to maintain Manchester City's momentum in the post-Guardiola era, Pierre Sage is up against it as he tries to follow Oliver Glasner as the manager of Crystal Palace. After all, Glasner took over a club that had never won a major trophy and delivered the FA Cup, the Community Shield and the Conference League.

Sage kicked off the Premier League season with a 2-0 defeat at Everton. The Eagles had numerous chances to take the lead at 0-0, but they failed to capitalise on those opportunities and then gifted the Toffees an opener. To make matters worse, Palace lost defender Chadi Riad to a serious knee injury.

There are also issues in the transfer market. Star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has been trying unsuccessfully to have the final year of his contract annulled, while Ismaila Sarr has been linked with Liverpool and Galatasaray. Sage insists both players are staying.

It's important not to underestimate Sage. Against the odds he led Lens to Champions League qualification last term, and the Blood and Gold also won the Coupe de France. He is a bullish character who has been able to get the most out of difficult characters and tough situations in the past.

Riad's likely long-term absence has been offset by the arrival of Chelsea defender Axel Disasi on loan. Sarr has been struggling with a groin injury, and is expected to miss out again.

City have made a false start to new era

Having been demolished by Arsenal in the Community Shield, Manchester City laboured to a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth in their Premier League opener. Enzo Maresca's side fell behind at the Etihad and could have conceded a second before Marc Guehi (playing in an unfamiliar midfield role) and Josko Gvardiol turned the game around in the closing minutes.

What's interesting about City is that so many of the players that were meant to be a part of their recent rebuild have already been dispensed with. Savinho and Omar Marmoush have joined Spurs, James Trafford went to Leeds, Nico Gonzalez has been sold to Newcastle and Tijjani Reijnders is now in Saudi Arabia with Al-Qadsiah. Some of City's living legends have gone too, with Bernardo Silva, Rodri and John Stones all moving on in the same summer.

The midfield is being completely rebuilt. England international Elliot Anderson and Morocco's World Cup star Ayyoub Bouaddi have been recruited at great expense, and no-one would be truly surprised if Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez came to join them.

Anderson and Jeremy Doku could both miss out with injury. It remains to be seen whether Maresca will persist with playing Guehi in midfield against his former club.

Check out Ste Tudor's early look at this weekend's football

Semenyo the key to 19/102.90 Bet Builder

Antoine Semenyo has been on superb form for City since he arrived from Bournemouth midway through last season, and I'd expect him to start here. The Ghana star learned to be a pressing machine under Andoni Iraola on the south coast, and in 13 of his 18 Premier League games for City, he has committed at least one foul.

I'll also back Semenyo to have a shot on target, something he's done in 12 of his 18 top-flight matches for City.

Finally, to take us to 19/102.90 on the Bet Builder, I'll back both teams to score. City have leaked four goals in two games under Maresca, and even in their final 21 Premier League games under Pep Guardiola they conceded a goal in 13 of them.

Palace did fail to score against City home and away last term, but I just think this City team under Maresca are a work in progress and will give up chances.

Haaland to end mini-drought

Although he failed to score against Arsenal in the Community Shield and missed a sitter against Bournemouth, I can't pass up the chance to back Erling Haaland here in the Anytime Goalscorer market at 1.9420/21 on the Exchange. He has netted a staggering eight goals in five Premier League clashes with the Eagles, and he has scored on all four top-flight visits to Selhurst Park.

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