Premier League: City aiming to pull clear of Liverpool at Palace on Monday night

Pep Guardiola's side face a testing trip to south London to take on the Eagles, with Jurgen Klopp's team just three points behind them.

City's fate in their hands

Manchester City have their destiny in their own hands despite Liverpool breathing down their necks in the race for the Premier League title.

Pep Guardiola will be treating every one of the last 10 games of the league season as “a final”: win them and they will lift the trophy in May.

Crystal Palace though represents a tricky fixture as the Eagles look to claim their first double over City since the 1987-88 season.

City are at 1.35 to win, with Palace at 9.8 and a draw is 5.7.

Palace on form

Patrick Viera’s side are firmly ensconced in mid-table following a run of two wins and a draw in the league and have also reached the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Conor Gallagher, Michael Olise and Wilfried Zaha shone during their 2-0 victory at Wolves last time out with Viera describing his side’s first-half performance at Molineux as their best of the season. Neither did they allow the hosts any sniff of a comeback in the second half.

Zaha has scored three in as many league games and is at 5.2 to score anytime as is Jean-Philippe Mateta who has two in three.

Palace have scored seven during their unbeaten run – although City will present very different opposition - and both teams to score is at 2.08.

The hosts last beat City at Selhurst Park in April 2015 and have taken one point in six subsequent home games.

Despite their form and having won at the Etihad in October, they are still the underdogs and double chance on Palace to win or draw is at 3.35.

Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira faces one of his former clubs Man City on Monday night

City mean in defence and full of goals

Guardiola heaped praise on his Palace counterpart and pointed to his opponents’ physicality, organisation and quality forward line.

However, their away form is the best in the division with 11 wins, two draws and just one defeat at Tottenham back in August.

They have conceded only eight on the road and a City clean sheet is at 1.85 while the visitors to win to nil is at 1.99.

Up until their midweek 0-0 draw with Sporting CP, City had scored in every game in all competitions since their defeat by Palace in October. They certainly turned the screw against Manchester United and are at 2 to score in both halves.

Riyad Mahrez has scored eight in nine games in all competitions and is at 2.12 to score anytime with Kevin De Bruyne, who got two in the Manchester derby, at 3.05.

Expect City to dig in

Gallagher was superb in midfield when Palace won at the Etihad and sealed the points with a late strike and he is at 5.6 to score anytime.

City were frustrated by Palace that day and ended up with 10 men following Aymeric Laporte’s red card. Palace can take confidence from their victory and the onus is all on City.

However, they have won six away games by a one-goal margin – although they rode their luck most recently at Everton – and can dig in in the most physical of matches. City to win and both teams to score is at 2.62.

Recommended bets

City/BTTS @ 2.62

Mahrez anytime @ 2.12

Zaha anytime @ 5.2

City score both halves @ 2