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Manchester City are set to welcome Crystal Palace to Etihad Stadium in what is one of the more lopsided matches from a betting perspective this year. City are coming off a win over Luton Town and will be looking to continue that momentum in their midweek European duties. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, are on a five-match winless streak and find themselves down to 15th on the table. Continue reading to access an expert Manchester City vs Crystal Palace prediction and explore stats and the latest Crystal Palace betting odds.
- Manchester City FC vs Crystal Palace FC, English Premier League
- December 16, 2023
- 10 AM EST
- Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
- NBC Sports, Peacock, Telemundo
Manchester City vs Crystal Palace Betting Odds
Manchester City are astronomical favorites over a reeling Crystal Palace side. The club currently boasts an enormous moneyline price of (-575), effectively untouchable in volatile sports such as soccer. Therefore, the price on Crystal Palace and draw are very favorable to bettors who like large payouts. You can get Crystal Palace to win at (+1550) at highly-rated sportsbook BetOnline. The draw is available at (+720) as well.
Premier League 
Manchester City -575 -600 -600 -650 -650 Crystal Palace +1550 +1400 +1400 +1400 +1400 Draw +720 +675 +675 +675 +675
To better understand the 3-way moneyline (1X2) market, see our soccer betting tips and learn about English Premier League betting odds.
Manchester City Focused on Continental Affairs
Man City’s pursuit of a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title has stumbled in recent weeks. A string of three draws against Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham, along with a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa, has resulted in a six-point gap behind current leaders Arsenal as Christmas approaches.
The defeat to Unai Emery’s team marked a record-breaking game for City, but for all the wrong reasons. They faced a staggering 22 shots, the most they’ve ever encountered in a Premier League match under Pep Guardiola. Additionally, they registered their lowest shot count (2) since Opta began recording and the fewest ever managed by a Pep Guardiola-led side in a top-flight league game.
These recent outcomes highlight defensive weaknesses within Pep Guardiola’s team. With only five clean sheets in 23 matches this season, their defensive solidity appears to be a notable concern. Nonetheless, the Etihad Stadium remains a formidable fortress.
Man City has maintained an unbeaten streak in their last 26 home games across all competitions in 2023, triumphing in 24 of them. Yet, their last two Premier League home games against Liverpool and Tottenham concluded in draws, disrupting their flawless home record.
Crystal Palace Falling off the Deep End
Liverpool considered themselves lucky to escape Crystal Palace with a win last weekend. Referee Andrew Madley remained deeply involved throughout the match, issuing eight yellow cards to the home side and dismissing their penalty appeal in the initial half following a VAR review.
Until Ayew’s dismissal in the 75th minute, Liverpool struggled to generate opportunities, failing to register a single shot on target. Ayew, initially booked for not adhering to the free-kick retreat rule on the hour mark, received his second yellow card, leaving his team a player down. Salah changed the narrative just over a minute later, scoring his 150th Premier League goal and Liverpool’s first shot on target to equalize after Mateta’s penalty.
With the prospect of claiming the league’s top spot with a win, Liverpool persisted in their attacking efforts. Their determination paid dividends when substitute Elliott struck the winning goal in the first minute of added time in the second half, sparking jubilation among the traveling fans. The comeback sealed a 2-1 victory in what looked to be a surprising upset by Palace for most of the game.
Manchester City vs Crystal Palace Prediction and Free Betting Pick
Crystal Palace are really not as bad as these odds are making them out to be. Yes, they are on a cold streak, but they defeated Manchester United at Old Trafford this year and were practically robbed at home to table-topping Liverpool last time out.
City will be playing on just three days’ rest after completing their midweek match against Crvena zvezda. It will be easy for them to overlook a Palace side that, from all outside indications, has no business competing with them. But Hodgson’s side has proven they have no quit in them and believe they can hang with the top guns in the league.
I would play this game cautiously, as Manchester City can at any point look like the best club ever and offensive juggernauts. However, I believe the total is suspiciously low and worthy of consideration. While I am tempted to bet on Crystal Palace, I think looking at the under is actually a better way to play them. I think Palace can keep this close but if they fail to score, the Asian handicap of +2 could quickly get out of reach.
To support the visitors but remain positive in the event of a 3-0 win, I will recommend a conservative wager on under 3.5 goals. The line is currently available at (-145), and I would take it up to (-150).
Top Sportsbooks for Crystal Palace Betting
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