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Crystal Palace return to Selhurst Park as they aim to bounce back from an opening day defeat at Everton. New manager Pierre Sage joined a long list of Eagles bosses who have lost their opening match. Fans hope it’s not a sign of things to come.
If the Londoners are to pick up a win at the second attempt, they must beat a Manchester City side that ground down a dogged Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium. If week one is anything to go by, followers of the Premier League can expect plenty of fight from The Citizens under Enzo Maresca.
Which team will take the points before a live TV audience on Friday from 20:00 BST? The legal and licensed sportsbooks featured on this page offer Flashscore readers over 100 pre-match markets, live betting, and even a generous welcome bonus for new sign-ups.
Keep reading as football betting analyst Frank Monkhouse, fresh from advising two winners from two picks last Friday, gives you his Crystal Palace v Man City predictions.
Crystal Palace v Man City betting tips
Haaland to score @ 8/13 (bet365)
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Result - Man City win
Victories don’t come easily at Selhurst Park, but I’m taking Man City to continue their winning start, banking six points from their opening two games.
The hosts have a rotten record in this fixture, failing to win 20 of the previous 22 encounters. That period includes no fewer than 15 wins for the 10-time Premier League champions. If you visit the Flashscore app and check out the updated head-to-head stats there, you’ll discover that Palace last beat Man City way back in 2021.
The venue doesn’t appear to hold much fear for the Cityzens either. Some stadiums are more difficult to visit than others, but South London was a happy hunting ground under Pep Guardiola. Man City are unbeaten in their previous 11 league games here, and that’s something current boss Maresca can build on.
The H2H doesn’t read well for Crystal Palace fans, but there’s more to worry about.
The home team enter winless in eight Premier League outings, collecting just 3 of the last 24 top-flight points available. That’ll do nothing for team morale, and it’ll be interesting to see if the man in the home dugout has the talent to turn things around. I expect a tough season.
Focusing on the here and now, I’m more than happy to add a win for Man City to my weekend accumulators and bet builders. Given Palace’s recent poor form and City’s unbeaten run at this arena, I’m confident that we’re onto a strong bet.
The final score isn’t important with this wager. A narrow 1-0 win pays the same as a 5-0 thrashing. All backers care about is Man City leaving with all three points.
Tip: Man City win @ 3/5 (bet365)
Bet explanation: If Manchester City beats Crystal Palace on Friday evening before the live TV cameras, you’ll beat the bookies and secure a profit.
Total goals - Over 2.5
Beyond the match-winner market, I highlight the value in the total goals option. Trust Crystal Palace v Manchester City to produce more than two goals from both teams combined.
Let’s start with the head-to-head. A bet on over 2.5 goals landed in both meetings last term, with Man City winning 3-0 at this stadium in December, before doing the same at the Etihad in May. Digging deeper, backing over 2.5 goals was the correct approach in each of the last six, going back to December 2023.
In the previous 10 meetings, over 2.5 goals enjoyed a 70% win ratio. As any serious football gambler knows, that’s a very strong and useful stat, and I’m confident Friday’s renewal will follow.
The trip to London will be Man City’s sixth and final match in August. Including domestic games and friendlies, over 2.5 goals landed four times out of five. That run includes the 2-1 win over Bournemouth last week, a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield, and a 3-1 friendly win over Atletico Madrid.
Palace’s summer was a mixed bag. I don’t like to read too much into friendlies, but the home team conceded one goal against Swindon Town, Fulham, and Al Ula, and three versus Bromley. Those are added to the two goals conceded at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on matchday one of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.
Tip: Over 2.5 goals @ 4/6 (bet365)
Bet explanation: Friday evening’s match from Selhurst Park must produce more than two goals.
Anytime scorer - Haaland
I round things off with a bet on the player markets, taking Erling Haaland to score on Friday against Crystal Palace.
As above, the winning team and final score don’t impact your returns. All you need is Haaland to find the net at any stage of the play, and you’ll profit. He can score early or late. Your wager is live for the entire time the English-born Norwegian scoring legend is on the pitch. It’s a real value-for-money play.
Picking Haaland to score most weekends makes sense. He banged in 58 goals in 64 appearances for club and country last season. Highlights include a brace at this stadium just before Christmas. Erling got another three against Liverpool, and a couple more in the Manchester Derby. Let’s not forget his seven goals in five World Cup fixtures.
Haaland enters this fixture with a 100% record, scoring eight goals in five EPL matches against Palace. That is the most clinical record of any player against a team in the top division, but he is a man famous for making and breaking records.
Will Erling continue that stunning run against the Eagles? It’s certainly worth a bet.
Tip: Haaland to score @ 8/13 (bet365)
Bet explanation: A goal for Haaland ensures a profit for followers of this prediction.
Crystal Palace v Man City betting odds
Crystal Palace win @ 4/1 (bet365)
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