Crystal Palace vs Manchester City preview - Alan Pardew: Crystal Palace are closing the gap behind Manchester City

Posted Friday, September 11, 2015 by PA

Manchester City may have been the Premier League's top spenders this summer but Alan Pardew insists Crystal Palace are closing the gap.

City have splashed more than B£150million on the likes of Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne since they were stunned 2-1 by the Eagles at Selhurst Park last April.

The results have been impressive so far with City boasting four wins out of four, without conceding a goal, to sit top of the table ahead of Saturday's rematch.

But Palace moved up to second on the back of their win at champions Chelsea a fortnight ago and Pardew, whose biggest summer outlay was B£10million midfielder Yohan Cabaye, feels they have an even better chance of beating City's all stars this time around.

"Only a handful of Premier League clubs can spend that money, but we are in that next batch and we are all fighting to catch up," said the Eagles boss.

"You can only play 11 players. That's one good thing about this game. If we were coming up against City and it was 20 players each then they'd definitely win. But they can only play 11 and our 11 is getting closer to Man City's, as is Stoke's and West Ham's.

"Beating Chelsea must enhance our confidence. Our technical ability is now matching our work rate and that makes us a good team. Manchester City will be approaching this game knowing they are up against a good side.

"They will be favourites to win and you would expect them to win, but I think they will know we are a bit closer to them than last year.

"We won last year, but by the seat of our pants a little bit. At Chelsea we were much more in control and that's why I think we are in a better place to get a result against City, even though we won against them last year."

Injuries to Connor Wickham and Marouane Chamakh, and Glenn Murray's move to Bournemouth, are likely to mean an opportunity in attack for either Patrick Bamford or Dwight Gayle.

Club record signing Kevin de Bruyne is poised to make his Manchester City debut as David Silva sits out this weekend's trip to Palace.

Silva is not being risked by manager Manuel Pellegrini ahead of next Tuesday's Champions League encounter against Juventus after suffering an ankle injury during the international break.

That should make it straightforward for the Barclays Premier League leaders to slot their new B£54million man into their formidable-looking side.

Speaking at a press conference to preview the Selhurst Park clash with second-placed Palace, Pellegrini said: "In his position it is more easy, maybe, to settle in our team. He needs maybe to be included in the movements of our squad for more time, but if we need him at this moment he can play without problems."

Pellegrini made just one change to his starting line-up in City's first four games of the campaign - all of which were won convincingly without conceding a goal.

Former Chelsea player De Bruyne's big-money move from Wolfsburg came after the last of them, against Watford almost a fortnight ago, and has since been away with Belgium.

Pellegrini would have liked more time to work with him but does not think his lack of familiarity with his new team-mates will be a problem.

He said: "It is not the best way to arrive, to go to his national squad, but it doesn't matter.

"He is a very young player, 24 years old. I always say when good players arrive at a good team with very good players like David, Kun (Sergio Aguero), Yaya (Toure), just to name some, they will continue improving."

The international break has come at a cost for City with the luckless Fabian Delph injured as well as key playmaker Silva.

Silva's injury does not appear so serious and Pellegrini is hopeful he will be back in contention for the visit of Juve.

He said: "He is out for tomorrow and maybe it is a risk for him to take another kick in the same place, so it is better for him to rest a couple of days."

City's fine start to the season will be tested by Alan Pardew's Palace, who have also made a positive early impression by collecting nine points from their opening four games.

Pellegrini said: "Last season Alan Pardew also finished in a very good way with Crystal Palace.

"He is a manager that always has a good team with good performance. I am not surprised by them because they have very good players."