Manchester City vs Crystal Palace - Premier League: Relive the action as SEVEN-goal thriller sees Pep Guardiola's strike back from 2-0 down

Right guys, it's time for me to head off.

It's been over 45 minutes since the final whistle blew at the Etihad, but I am still sitting here in disbelief.

With how poor Manchester City have been this season, I thought they were dusted when Crystal Palace went 2-0 up.

But they always say, a two-goal lead is the most dangerous lead.

As soon as Kevin De Bruyne banged that free-kick in to make a fist of the game, everything changed.

A second goal came, then a third, then a fourth, and so on. It was relentless; arguably, it was the best Pep Guardiola's side have played all season.

They now sit fourth in the Premier League as the battle for Champions League qualification hots up, with Newcastle and Chelsea in action tomorrow.

Anyway, thank you for joining me today. I will see you later at the Emirates!

Joe Cole, former Chelsea midfielder, on TNT Sports:

Kevin De Bruyne stepped up and the rest of the players followed him. That is what leaders do. That is what top players do.

From that moment on it was an exceptional performance from Man City, and there hasn't been many of those here this year, where they were so dominant and comfortable.

Ooooh, this is interesting.

Jean-Philippe Mateta was in fine form heading into this afternoon. I was raving about him before the game even started.

He made me look a little silly, though. He was pretty pants today and barely got a touch.

Oliver Glasner decided to take him off at the break, and while he had been poor, it was a change that surprised me. I even asked if it was because of an injury.

Well, Glasner has just told the press that he doesn't regret bringing the striker off at half-time, and it was a tactical switch.

The Palace boss said: 'He lost too many duels and too many balls. The mistake I made was to change the system, not in taking Mateta off.'

Not holding back, is he?

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager, speaking to the BBC:

I would say we played really good all game. We were 2-0 down and we created a lot and I said at half time we were playing good.

Our momentum was sparked with a free-kick from Kevin and after that we played a really good game considering we were 2-0 down and considering how Crystal Palace have been in the past games.

On Kevin De Bruyne:

The Kevin we have known for many years. I know he's struggled the last year and a half. He's free without pain and completely different. The way we played helped him a lot with incredible runners, the young lads, the full-backs.

James McAtee, Manchester City goalscorer, speaking to TNT Sports:

I don’t think we deserved to be 2-0 down, I missed a few chances early on. We were playing well anyway and we knew the goals were going to come. We showed good character to come back.

Everyone was up for the game and we wanted to prove a point that we're committed, and want to finish in the Champions League spots.

No matter how much I see that scoreline, I still struggle to fathom what happened here.

Crystal Palace really were rinsing Manchester City, tearing them apart at will. The champions were all over the place.

When Eberechi Eze looked like he had added a third, I was p[prepared to say it was game over. I think it would have been.

But that flag saved City and gave them the kick up the backside that they needed, right when they needed it.

From then on, it was one-way traffic. Crystal Palace's goal was under siege.

This was just the third time that a side has won by a three-goal margin despite trailing by two goals in the Premier League, after Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur in February 2012 and Manchester United against Spurs in April 2009.

A real rarity.

Ally McCoist, former Rangers striker, on TNT Sports:

Kevin De Bruyne is one of the few players in the modern game who can grab a match by the scruff of the neck, give it a shake, and do exactly what is required to win.

From the moment the free-kick went in off the post, off he went. His contribution was invaluable as it has been over the years. A top-class performance from a top-class player.

Goalkeepers these days are just ridiculously talented with the ball at their feet.

I mean, you would never see Peter Schemichel ping a ball like that over the top to send someone in to score.

Well, he just finished them off instead... it's probably not my finest example. But you get what I mean.

Anyway, there is no better keeper at using their feet than Ederson. Many of you might say ASlisson, but the City stopper edges it for me.

Ederson has now provided four assists in the Premier League this term, twice as many as any other goalkeeper has managed across a single season in the competition.

His assist in this match was the eighth by a goalkeeper in 2024-25, the joint-most in a Premier League campaign along with 1992-93 and 2007-08.

It's a shame his afternoon ended in injury.

There are a lot of goals to choose from, but there is one I really want to watch again.

Ederson may not get the praise that he used to, but my word, he really does know how to pass a ball.

Just look at the ball over the top from James McAtee, it's actually just ridiculous.

And the finish ain't half bad either, is it?

Kevin De Bruyne doesn't look like he wants to leave that pitch.

He is currently doing a lap of honour and clapping all of those Manchester City fans who are still in the stands.

The Belgian was unreal today; he really was.

He rolled back the years to start off the comeback and just ran the game from there on.

The midfielder will only grace the Etihad pitch three more times before he walks out the door as a legend.

And after that display, he has certainly still got it!

What a weird game that was.

Crystal Palace were cruising early on in this match, but from the moment Eberechi Eze's strike was ruled out, the game changed.

From 2-0 down, Manchester City turned this game on its head and now walk away having completed a remarkable comeback.

A good afternoon's work from the Champions, in the end.

Jeremy Doku must be the most fouled player in the Premier League these days, surely.

He always seems to get clarted at some point, and it has just happened as Jefferson Lerma brings him down.

The Crystal Palace man picks up a booking.

Kevin De Bruyne has been taken off, so many Manchester City fans have taken that as a cue to leave, it seems.

The Etihad is emptying rapidly, but there is then a smattering of applause after it's announced that Kevin De Bruyne is the Man of the Match.

I mean, who else could it have gone to?

Poor Crystal Palace, do these officials not have any empathy?

The board goes up and shows that there will be seven minutes of added time.

I bet those players let out a big old sigh when they saw it...

Kevin De Bruyne gets his standing ovation.

Boy does he deserve it, the Manchester City man has been different class today.

Pep Guardiola allows him to bathe in the praise as he takes him off to be replaced by Jack Grealish.

Jeremy Doku is also on for Mateo Kovacic, because why not?

How has that not gone in?

Crystal Palace finally decide to have a say in this game again and almost get their third goal of the game.

Matheus Franca smashes the ball across in parallel with the goal line, and somehow, Ismail Sarr doesn't tap it in.

There must have been a touch from Stefan Ortega because a corner has been given.

Still, that should be a goal.

Nico O’Reilly’s goal means Manchester City have scored five at the Etihad in the Premier League for the first time since beating Wolves 5-1 last May.

Who could see this coming when Palace led 2-0 and had a third from Eberechi Eze narrowly ruled out for offside.

Look who is back!

Nearly eight months after getting injured in pre-season, Oscar Bobb returns to the pitch.

The youngster gets a huge round of applause as he replaces Omar Marmoush for his first appearance of the season.

Savinho is also on, he replaces James McAtee.

Two final changes from Crystal Palace.

Eberechi Eze, who started this thriller off, is the first to leave the pitch for Matheus Franca.

Adam Wharton also plods off the pitch with a rather glum look on his face as he is replaced by Justin Devenny.

And another one...

Nico O'Reilly caps off what has been a five-star display from Manchester City, and in some style.

I was in the midst of typing about how there was still little happening, and then the youngster just strokes the ball perfectly into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

What a way to score your first Premier League goal!

This game is done now, nothing is really happening.

I can't recall a single attack that Crystal Palace have had this half; they have been so flat.

It's almost like as soon as that Kevin De Bruyne goal went in during the first half, their heads dropped, and they have never recovered.

And now City are just vibing with the ball, not doing much with it.

Oh dear, Ederson does not look happy at all.

Replays show that he felt something in his groin as he stroked a pss out a few minutes ago.

Thankfully, he doesn't need a stretcher, but he hobbles off to be replaced by Stefan Ortega.

Not a bad replacement, I guess.

James McAtee is having a very eventful first league start for City, that's for sure.

He's missed big chances he scored on, and now he has picked up a booking.

It's not a pretty challenge from the City man; he completely cleans out Jefferson Lerma.

Meanwhile, Ederson has gone down, and it doesn't look good. I have no idea why, but he looks in some discomfort.

The stretcher is being readied.

OK, Crystal Palace fans, you can relax now.

Eberechi Eze is on his feet, and it looks like he should be fine to play on.

Panic over.

Oh dear, this doesn't look good.

Eberechi Eze does not look right; he looks like he has hurt his calf in some way.

He tries to get up after a couple of minutes of rolling about and then falls to the floor again.

Not exactly a great sign, is it?

Kevin De Bruyne’s name being chanted around the Etihad. He has a goal and an assist to his name but it could have been even more. Since City’s first goal, he’s been pulling the strings.

Oliver Glasner turns to the bench. I mean, he just had to.

Nathaniel Clyne and Ben Chilwell enter the action, while Maxence Lacroix and Tyrick Mitchell are hooked.

I feel for Chilwell and Clyne, they are coming on just to get a hammering.

WHAT IS GOING ON???

This is getting silly now. Manchester City nearly get a fifth. They are running riot here.

If it weren't for Dean Henderson, who knows what this scoreline would be?

Kevin De Bruyne sprints away and slides a stunning ball across to Omar Marmoush.

The Egyptian looks set to score, but Henderson denies him, and then Ilkay Gundogan has an effort blocked as it's heading in.

Is this a fever dream? I can't quite believe what I am watching.

Wow. Wow. Wow.

From 2-0 down, Manchester City are now 4-2 up, and James McAtee finally has his goal.

Guess who got the assist?

Ederson gets his fourth assist of the season (yes, you are reading that right) as he picks out McAtee, who is on his bike.

The youngster takes a brilliant touch, races past Dean Henderson, and rolls the ball into an empty net.

He then turns into Simone Biles and starts doing flips to celebrate...

Search 'what type of challenge warrants a yellow card' and this Maxence Lacroix tackle should now pop up.

The Frenchman smashes into Ilkay Gundogan, and it's an easy decision for the referee, who books him.

No complaints from Lacroix, either.

It should be four...

How James McAtee has not scored in this match, I really do not know.

His third golden opportunity of the game comes and goes as he blazes over the bar after a lovely ball from Omar Marmoush.

I have to say, Crystal Palace have fallen apart... if that wasn't already obvious.

I'm dumbstruck; I really am.

I'm not sure anyone envisaged this scoreline at 50 minutes when Eberechi Eze's strike was disallowed.

It's almost like Manchester City went, 'alright, we should start playing now'.

What an utterly bonkers match.

The turnaround is complete!

It takes just a couple of minutes for Manchester City to round off their comeback, and Kevin De Bruyne is involved again.

The Belgian lays the ball off for Mateo Kovacic, who just drills the ball into the bottom corner.

All I can say is: WOW.

That break went quickly, jeez.

Both sets of players are already back out on the turf and in the sunshine for the second half.

Oliver Glasner has made one change, and it's a bit of a strange one.

Will Hughes is on, but it's Jean-Philippe Mateta who is hooked. I didn't see that one coming. Is he injured?

Anyway, we are back underway.

Ellen White, former Man City striker, on BBC Radio 5 Live:

De Bruyne is on a mission. He loves Man City and wants the team to do well for the fans. That free-kick was very nice.

There was no need for the Kamada foul. It was ridiculous and then you have given Man City a chance. If I was Glasner going in at half-time, I would be volleying things!

My word, Kevin De Bruyne was just box office in that first half.

The Manchester City man hasn't been anywhere near his best this season; I think even he would admit that.

But today, it feels like he has come out with a point to prove. He may be leaving this part of the world come June, but he's certainly still got it.

In that first half, it felt like we had the old De Buryne back. You know, the one that some claim is the best midfielder to ever grace this division.

It was like some switch flicked inside him and turned on 'classic mode'. The Belgian was excellent.

We are all going to miss him; let's be real. What a player.

We simply have to watch the leveller, don't we?

I am still a little shocked at just how quickly that game was flipped on its head.

As soon as Kevin De Bruyne pulled one back, though, you just felt the second would follow.

And well, it did, and Omar Marmosuh provided it.

Lunchtime games aren’t usually this good. Both teams look capable of scoring every time they go forward and it’s been a brilliant opening 45 minutes.

Perhaps the players have been reading the debate about whether the Premier League has become too dull. This is the perfect antidote to last weekend’s bore in the Manchester derby.

My word, what a 45 minutes that was.

We have been treated to one of the craziest halves of football in the Premier League this season. There have been four goals, but there could have easily been eight.

Crystal Palace were cruising at 2-0 up, and Manchester City were all over the gaff. There was not one part of me that thought Palace wouldn't be leading at the break.

Well, Kevin De Bruyne then happened.

The Belgian has dragged his side back into this, and they could easily be leading.

Chaotic doesn't even cut it.

What. A. Chance.

Kevin De Bruyne simply has to score there; I was almost certain that he would do.

He takes a filthy touch in the box to fashion space, and he just has Deabn Henderson to beat.

But the Belgian gets a little too excited and smashes the ball high over the bar.

That would have been the perfect way for De Bruyne to cap off what has been a brilliant first-half

There are going to be just three minutes of stoppage time.

That's a shame. I wanted more; I really don't want this half of footie to end.

And breathe...

I nearly needed my inhaler after all of those goals, but at last, this game has calmed down a little.

That Manchester City surge has slowed, and now, we're just ticking toward the break.

With how this game has gone, though, I have no idea what the score will be when that whistle is blown.

Football is a mental sport, isn't it?

Just 10 minutes ago, Crystal Palace looked like they were three to the good and cruising.

All of a sudden, Manchester City are now level and all over the visitors like a rash.

What a bonkers half of footie.

Manchester City are level in a flash!

Two goals in three minutes and all of a sudden City are back on level terms. Utter chaos.

Kevin De Buryne is involved again as he nods the ball back to Ilkay Gundogan, who mistimes his effort into the path of Omar Marmoush.

The Egyptian doesn't even need a touch and he just leathers the ball low into the back of the net.

What a comeback!

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...

Kevin De Bruyne really is dragging this Manchester City side back into this game, and they should be level.

The City man drives forward and has Palace in all sorts of bother before the ball is whipped into the box.

McAtee meets it and just has to score, but he somehow misses the target from close range.

What a chance.

And conjure up a beauty he does!

That is why you never give Kevin De Bruyne a chance to score from a free kick; he needs no invitation.

Daichi Kamada looks a little silly now as De Bruyne bends the ball in off the post in style.

City are back in this!

Ooooft, that's not a good challenge whatsoever.

Daichi Kamada snaps Nico Gonzalez in half just outside the area, and he gets away with just a yellow.

That may be the least of his worries, mind. Kevin De Buryne is standing over the free-kick 25 yards out.

Now would be a good time for him to bang in a beauty.

What is going on???

I'm in disbelief here, Crystal Palace have the ball in the back of the net for the third time in half an hour.

Eberechi Eze wheels away after racing onto a ball in behind and bending the ball low past Ederson.

But his joy is short-lived; the flag is up. He goes ever-so slightly too early, and I'm not sure why - he doesn't need to.

It really si crazy just how easy that was, though. City are being chewed up like the biscuits in my cupboard.

This really is quite something.

Ismaila Sarr, how have you missed??

I can't believe that Crystal Palace aren't 3-0 up, and neither can Sarr as he buries his head in his hands.

Palace rip through Man City down the right again, and the ball ends up with Sarr inside the area.

You just expect the net to bulge but he lamps the ball comfortably over the bar; a shocking g miss.

Palace are really tearing City apart.

Ohhh, now that is cheeky.

Nico O'Reilly gets some cheers as he decides to get tricky inside his own box, which I usually lambast, to be honest.

But he pulls off a lovely little roulette to get out of danger. Honestly, it's class.

The problem is, the risk of doing that when you are 2-0 down is pretty silly. But we will let the young lad off.

Oh my word, what an effort!

Kevin De Bruyne rolls back the years and nearly nets an absolute rocket from 25 yards out.

The Belgian has just had enough and decides to have a crack, rifling the ball toward the top left corner.

But the ball crashes back off the post, and Ilkay Gundogan can't bury the rebound.

That would have been some goal.

Crystal Palace are in dreamland!

It's bedlam in the away end as Chris Richards doubles the visitors' lead at the Etihad.

Ederson will not want to watch this one back. He flaps at a corner and allows Richards to nod home from three yards out.

Terrible, terrible goal to concede.

Palace’s goal was the type we’ve seen many times from City down the years. They appear to be targeting Nico O’Reilly who is playing out of position at left-back.

City are looking better going forward than at the back but it is a sign of Pep’s frustration that he is appealing for everything, gesturing there was a tug on Omar Marmoush in the box when there wsn’t.

Crystal Palace look so comfortable at the back here, they really do.

They just know that as soon as they get the ball, Manchester City are there to be got at on the counter.

It looks like the visitors are one pass away from being through with every attack, City are all over the place.

A familiar story this season.

Should Manchester City have had a penalty there?

I didn't notice it at first, but after watching a replay of that chance it looks like Chris Richards puts Omar Marmoush off balance with a cheeky tug.

Had Richards not have done that, the forward could have easily just slid the ball past Dean Henderason.

There wasn't much contact, but there was definitely some. Lucky boy.

Dean Henderson, take a bow!

I was just typing about how Manchester City were being ripped to shreds defensively, and then I look up, and Omar Marmosuh is through.

I start typing goal, it almost seems a certainty, but Henderrson rushes out and produces a wonderful stop to deny the Egyptian.

Kevin De Bruyne then follows up, but Chris Richards deflected the ball wide for a corner.

How are City not level?

I told you Crystal Palace were dangerous on the break, didn't I?

The visitors have barely touched the ball, but they really don't need to.

It was ridiculously easy for them to slice through Manchester City there, like a knife through butter.

I would say the goals has sucked the life out of the Etihad, but there was none to begin with.

Hasrh, but true.

What a beautiful goal that is!

It's the perfect star for Crystal Palace, and Eberechi Eze is the player leading the celebrations.

Ismaila Sarr beasts the offside trap down the right and slides the ball across the box to the back post, and Eze is there to tap home.

So slick, so smooth, so superb.

Oh, James McAtee...

The midfielder is given the perfect chance to mark his first City Premier League start with a goal, but he blows it.

Kevin De Bruyne lofts the ball over the top for him to run onto, and he just has Dean Henderson to beat.

For some reason, he opts to try a cheeky chip rather than just put his laces through the ball. I'm not sure why.

And, well, Henderson gathers his effort comfortably. What a waste.

Now, that would have been one hell of a goal.

It's been all Manchester City in these early moments, but Crystal Palace are so dangerous on the counter.

They spring into life, and the ball is whipped into an on-running Jean-Philippe Mateta, who gets a head to it just inside the area.

It would take something special to score from there, and well, the header goes comfortably wide.

He was also quite comfortably offside.

Lots of conjecture about how City would line up tactically. It looks in the early stages like a 4-2-2-2 with Omar Marmoush and James McAtee furthest forward.

There is a clear lack of width in Pep’s plan but he’ll be hoping the ability of De Bruyne and Gundogan to play between the lines will pay dividends.

The Etihad really is living up to its reputation today.

I don't want to be mean, but there really are quite a lot of empty seats among the stands.

I'm just hoping there was a bad traffic jam by the ground and that it will be full soon.

But we will have to wait and see.

The Manchester City fans even struggle to sing Blue Moon just before kick-off. That says everything.

I'm not sure a single soul even hummed the beat there, mental.

The players then come out of their final huddles, and the hosts get this game underway.

This is just a classic Saturday lunchtime atmosphere.

While the weather may be good, the vibes are not. The Etihad is barely managing to conjure up a buzz.

There is barely anything more than a hum as the two teams come out of the tunnel.

I have a feeling that it may just be one of those quiet ones, which we get every so often. Some people are probably still recovering from what a Friday night sometimes entails.

There is some techno music after the teams come out, mind. You guys know how much I love these kinds of tunes.

Hopefully, they can pump up the crowd.

Chris Sutton, It's All Kicking Off! co-host, on BBC Sport:

Crystal Palace are a really well-balanced team who can cause Manchester City all sorts of problems with their 3-4-3 formation, even though Marc Guehi and Eddie Nketiah are suspended after being sent off against Brighton last week. The Eagles are in better form than Pep Guardiola's side too, with four wins and a draw from their past five league games - City have only won twice in the same period.

I still cannot move away from a City win, however. I still expect them to win these kind of games at home, even if they are miles away from being the team they were 12 months ago. We saw more evidence of that last week, because Sunday's Manchester derby was probably the dullest derby game I have ever watched.

You think about when Guardiola came over, and how he transformed the game. For years, City were so watchable. Now, if they were playing in my back garden I would close the curtains - although that would be a bit harsh on Palace.

Right guys, we are nearly there.

The warm-ups have just been wrapped up and now we have little over 10 more minutes to wait until kick-off.

I am just itching for this game to get going. I always wish I could just fast-forward life and skip to 12:30.

But nope, that's sadly not how life works.

Guys, it's finally happening. I can't believe it.

After months, and months, and months of waiting, semi-automated offsides are finally going to be used in the Premier League.

That should mean no more crazy five-minute wait times for the lines to be drawn by VAR.

We have seen it in the Champions League, where it has been a real success. It's much more black and white - after all, it takes human error out of it.

Rather than wait until next season to introduce it, the Premier League have decided to roll it out this weekend, starting here.

Let's hope there is no drama with it today, eh?

Oh, I just love Jean-Philippe Mateta.

He's just one of those players that's just hard to hate, don't you think? The Eagles striker has such a likeable character.

And he's a bit of a baller, too...

Only Mohamed Salah has scored more Premier League goals so far in 2025 than Mateta, who has nine.

With 18 goals in 2024, he could become the third Palace player to net double figures in the Premier League in consecutive years, along with Andrew Johnson and Eberechi Eze.

Can he add to his tally today?

Pep Guardiola, Man City boss, speaking on TNT Sports:

They have a lot of pace and quality and are a really good team. Crystal Palace is always a difficult team for us and that is the same when Oliver is here.

On De Bruyne's first home match since announcing departure:

Of course, it will be special. It has been 10 years here and it is special and I am sure they will show the appreciation for everything he has given here over the years.

Generous applause for Kevin De Bruyne as he leads the City players out for a warm-up in the sunshine. This is the Belgian’s first Etihad appearance since the announcement that he’s leaving the club at the end of the season and the camera phones from early arrivals have already been trained on him more than anyone else.

Today feels huge for Manchester City, doesn't it?

It's been comfortably over a decade since the club last failed to qualify for the Champions League. It's almost unfathomable to not see them in it these days.

Well, they need to buck up their ideas if they want to be in it next season, that's for sure.

Their lacklustre draw with Manchester United last week saw the champions drop out of the top five. They are one point behind Newcastle United and Chelsea.

Look, it's all very close in that race, but things could easily unravel at this time of the season for anybody involved.

City need to win today.

Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace manager, speaking to TNT Sports:

Since November, it has started to grow and of course, with results and performances, the belief and confidence has increased.

I think, across the season you have games when you miss key players. We have missed Guehi, Nketiah, Eze this season at points and managed to win.

We are facing a strong Man City team and it is important for us to be at our top level this season. Always when we started as kids, in the park or as a kid, you want to win. That is no different today.

Put your hand up if you are loving the weather right now.

In between me typing that first sentence and this one, I had both of my arms outstretched in the air.

Honestly, I can't quite believe just how nice the last two weeks has been weather-wise. It's been unreal.

Yet again, we are being blessed with sunshine this Saturday and it is putting a smile on my face.

It seems like it's doing the same for some fans, too.

Plenty of misgivings among supporters at Pep Guardiola’s starting XI today. No width, lack of pace etc. But there are three academy graduates in this team – Lewis, O’Reilly and McAtee – which should give City some umph. Phil Foden misses out through injury.

You know what time it is... that's right, it's stat pack time.

Our good friends at Squawka have delivered the goods once again ahead of this lunchtime kick-off, as they always do.

The stat that pops out to me is just how dominant Manchester City have been in this fixture. They've only lost four times.

In my head, Palace have always been a team to cause City problems, but I'm obviously wrong.

You know there are some statistics that just take you by surprise?

Well, this is one of them...

James McAtee has just been named in a Manchester City starting line-up for the first time in the Premier League.

Yeah, I know, and right?

In my head, McAtee had racked up more than a few starts just because of how many appearances he has made this season.

I mean, it's about time. McAtee usually balls out when he is given the chance, and I have a feeling that he will today.

Can he pay Pep Guardiola back with a good display?

Crystal Palace are on absolute smoke right now.

I think it's even fair to say that Oliver Glasner's side are on a European push, don't you think?

I mean, only league leaders Liverpool have earned more points over their last 10 Premier League games than Crystal Palace, who have won 22.

The Eagles have won four of their last five league matches, and six of their last eight away from home (D2).

Crystal Palace are also unbeaten in their last 10 away games in the Premier League; never before in their league history have they had a longer run without defeat on the road.

So yeah, I think it's fair to say they are in good form.

Alan Shearer, former Newcastle striker, speaking to Betfair:

Man City are without Erling Haaland, and they were really poor last week against Man United away. That being said, I think they'll have too much for Crystal Palace, with it being at home.

Palace, I know, are a threat, and they've got some really talented players up front particularly, but I'll say City will win.

And in the, erm... yellow corner.

You may notice that there is no Marc Guehi in this line-up, which may be a shock o you.

Well, it shouldn't be.

Both the skipper and Eddie Nketiah are missing through suspension after picking up red cards in the win over Brighton.

Chris Richards replaces Guehi at the back.

In the blue corner...

The first name that springs out to me is James McAtee, who is one of three changes from last week's Manchester derby.

Nico Gonzalez and Rico Lewis also come into the side while Phil Foden misses out altogether.

Right guys, the team news is almost out already, but before we reveal it, let's have a look at today's schedule.

I have to admit, this is not exactly a busy Saturday. Well, it is, but not in comparison to normal.

Here are all of the Premier League games today:

• Manchester City vs Crystal Palace, 12:30 BST
• Brighton vs Leicester, 15:00 BST
• Nottingham Forest vs Everton, 15:00 BST
• Southampton vs Aston Villa, 15:00 BST
• Arsenal vs Brentford, 17:30 BST

Gordon McRae... hit it!

Oh, what a beautiful morning it is. The sun is shining, it's the weekend, and the Premier League is on again. Doesn't get much better than this.

I really hope you got my opening reference, by the way. It's a real classic tune - I love it.

Anyway, I digress.

We start this lovely sunny Saturday at the Etihad as Manchester City and Crystal Palace meet for our very entertainment.

City are still chasing Champions League football, while Palace are one of, if not THE, most in-form teams in the top flight right now.

It's the kind of game that will just start your weekend off on the right foot. Well, I have a feeling it will.

With that being said, shall we get the ball rolling?