Crystal Palace v Manchester City

Manchester City have yet to concede a league goal this season

TEAM NEWS

Crystal Palace defender Joel Ward (knee) has been ruled out for up to a month, while Connor Wickham is a doubt.

Marouane Chamakh remains sidelined but Yohan Cabaye has overcome a groin problem and Julian Speroni is now fit.

Manchester City's Fabian Delph is out with a pulled hamstring and David Silva is missing after picking up an ankle knock during the international break.

Record signing Kevin de Bruyne is set to make his City debut, while Bacary Sagna has overcome an ankle problem.

MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES

John Motson: "We're straight out of the international break and into a meeting of the top two.

"Crystal Palace's victory at Chelsea last time out was no fluke – it was the latest in a string of superb results over the so-called big clubs. Indeed, I did this corresponding fixture for Radio 5 live last season when Palace won 2-1.

"To win again, Palace will have to end City's 100% winning start and become the first side to breach their impressive defence.

"Should City overcome this tricky hurdle I can see them putting more distance between themselves and their title rivals in the coming weeks."

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew: "I think we're good to watch. We're different to Manchester City. They retain the ball, they can dominate possession, and that will be the key – how many times we can unlock the door on our breakaways.

"It's great for our fans because of a little bit of ribbing about a top of the league clash.

"In the short term we can enjoy it, but we deserve to be there over four games. Of course there's another 34 to go unfortunately. Shame it can't end now."

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini on new signing Kevin de Bruyne: "Kevin is an important player, like Raheem (Sterling), he has characteristics we need.

"His position is easy to settle in our team. He will be a very important player for us. He's in the squad list, we'll see whether he starts.

"He's a young player and he's improved a lot since he was last in the Premier League."

LAWRO’S PREDICTION

Palace beat City at Selhurst Park in April, so Manuel Pellegrini knows exactly what will happen if his team are not at it. At the moment, however, City are playing extremely well. They are a completely different animal compared to six months ago and I expect that to show.

Lawro's full predictions v ex-F1 driver Mark Webber

• Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in our Predictor game.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Crystal Palace's 2-1 home win over Manchester City in April ended a seven-game losing streak against them in all competitions.
• The Eagles last secured successive league wins over City in the mid-1990s.
• Manchester City have kept clean sheets in four of their last five league and cup games against Palace and scored in the last eighth league encounters.

Crystal Palace

• A Palace victory would ensure they surpass their current highest-ever points tally after five games of a top-flight season (11).
• They are enjoying their best start since 2006-07, when they had nine points from their opening four matches in the Championship.
• Crystal Palace have won five of their last six Premier League games.
• Only 16 of the 40 points accrued since Alan Pardew took charge have been won at Selhurst Park (W5, D1, L6).
• Bakary Sako has scored five goals and supplied four assists in his last nine league appearances for either Crystal Palace or Wolves.

Manchester City

• Manchester City have won their last 10 league matches – a new club record. The top-flight record is 14, set by Arsenal in 2002.
• City have scored 28 goals during this period and conceded only four times.
• Manuel Pellegrini's side have not conceded a goal in their last five league games. A sixth successive clean sheet on Saturday would set a new club record.
• It is 476 minutes since their defence was last breached, in May's 4-2 win at Swansea.
• City have not won their opening four games since 2011-12, the season they claimed the Premier League title for the first time.
• If he plays, Raheem Sterling will become the 10th player to make 100 Premier League appearances before his 21st birthday.