If you’d offered Pep Guardiola forty-four points from seventeen matches at the beginning of the season, he would have gratefully accepted that potential return, although it’s a tally that only sees Manchester City sitting second in the Premier League table.

While the Citizens remain strong favourites to retain their title, it’s beginning to look a lot like Liverpool are serious challengers this term and the way in which they found a way to beat Manchester United last Sunday only supplements this view.

Guardiola will remain confident that his team can eventually emerge as top dogs and Saturday’s match against Crystal Palace looks eminently winnable, with Unibet offer 1/7 about a tenth successive home win for a team who are averaging nearly four goals per game at the Etihad Stadium.

City on a Spree

Everton were the latest team to feel the force of Manchester City, with the latter having now scored at least three goals in their previous four home matches. BetVictor offer 13/2 about a 3-0 victory for the champions here, with 4-0 currently trading at 9/1 with Betfair and it might not be far away from copping.

For matches like this, the bookies have got to a stage where you can effectively name your price about an away win at the Etihad and Coral go the biggest with their 22/1 quote that the Eagles somehow find a way to triumph in this fixture.

Palace are 2-1-6 on the road and have recently shipped three goals in games away to Brighton and West Ham, although they did previously earn a goalless draw at Old Trafford and had the clearer chances to win the game.

Paddy Power have 8/1 that this particular clash ends all square and Roy Hodgson might hope that some of City’s leading lights are given a rest ahead of a hectic festive schedule, while there are still injury concerns regarding David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne.

Obviously, we can’t tip a Manchester City win at the sort of odds which only suit customers with a massive bankroll, although the 4/7 (Ladbrokes) that the Citizens lead at half-time and full-time looks a pretty fair price considering that Guardiola’s men generally make a fast start to proceedings.

Palace to Score

It’s become a hallmark of this team that they race into an early unassailable lead before some astute game management gets the job done, although City have not been watertight at the back in recent matches and perhaps Palace are capable of finding the net at least once.

After all, the Eagles have scored in seven of their nine away games this season and you can therefore make a strong case when it comes to the 8/5 with BetVictor that Manchester City claim victory and both teams find the net.

It has been noticeable that Gabriel Jesus has found his shooting boots in recent matches and the Brazilian has cited the arrival of his family to England as a reason for this. The striker bagged twice against Everton and you can get 13/4 (Unibet) that he breaks the deadlock against a defence who has been accommodating on the road.