TEAM NEWS

Injured Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany might not return until the the "last part of the season".

Wilfried Bony, Fernandinho, Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri and Patrick Roberts are also set to miss out again.

Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie remains on the sidelines because of a leg problem.

Dwight Gayle is a doubt despite returning to training after a hamstring injury while Connor Wickham is expected to return to the starting XI.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Guy Mowbray: "Something strange happened on Wednesday - Manchester City failed to score at home for the first time in almost a year.

"Last time it happened they did it twice in a row, but that's unlikely to be the case again versus a Palace side with a few problems to solve.

"The biggest is scoring themselves, having gone four games without a goal or (obviously!) a win. It's no coincidence that the barren run has come whilst Yannick Bolasie's unpredictable, creative spark has been missing.

"City's array of bright sparks maybe just need a 'Pep talk' - or is that a bad choice of phrase?"

Twitter: @Guymowbray 

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini: "We must continue to play in the same way and trust we will score goals.

"If we don't score once [against Everton] after having 17 shots, it's just an accident.

"Teams are always waiting with eight or nine players behind the ball, waiting for us to play.

"We always try to play with a high tempo - it's not always easy against eight or nine players near their box. It's not tempo you need, you need accurate passes in the final third."

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew: "We are trying to bring a striker in, whether it's permanent or on loan.

"[Emmanuel] Adebayor is a player that's there for somebody. It's a question of teams like ourselves asking whether we're the right fit.

"You have to think of all the strikers who are available. There's a very small market for us. [Adebayor] is in that group. Not just for us, but for plenty of clubs."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Crystal Palace were beaten at Aston Villa, which is a poor result for anybody, but particularly for the Eagles given they went into the game with the best away record in the Premier League.

I think Alan Pardew's side will be much better at the Etihad but the bad news for them is that I think Manchester City will improve from their last game too.

Prediction: 3-0

Lawro's full predictions v Creed stars Jordan & Bellew

• 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

• Manchester City have won six of the seven Premier League meetings (L1).
• These sides have met twice this season, City winning September's league game 1-0 before a 5-1 League Cup triumph a month later.
• Crystal Palace have failed to score in four of the last five Premier League games against City.

Manchester City

• City's 0-0 draw against Everton on Wednesday was their first home league draw this season (W8, L2).
• They are the Premier League's top home scorers with 29 goals.
• Sergio Aguero has scored just once in his past five league games and in none of his three previous Premier League games against Palace.
• Yaya Toure has scored in four of his last five matches against Crystal Palace in all competitions.
• City forward Kelechi Iheanacho has scored in both matches against Palace this season.

Crystal Palace

• Palace are winless - and goalless - in their last four league matches (D2, L2).
• It is the first time since February 1998 that they have failed to score in four successive top-flight matches.
• The Eagles have kept just two clean sheets in their last 16 Premier League away matches.