Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola acknowledged the need for his players to do better, after their goalless draw away to Manchester United last weekend.

City host Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday, and Guardiola is targeting improvement with his side having dropped out of the Champions League places.

Following their draw with Manchester United - and Newcastle United's victory over Leicester City on Monday - the Citizens were leapfrogged by Eddie Howe's side, who also have a game in hand over them.

"The players know it. There is a process when the ball is on one side, the players need to be in the right position. That was not good enough," he said.

"Against a 5-4-1, it's so narrow and congested. We should have been in some positions that we tried to get in, but weren't good enough to punish them.

"The last games we were much, much better, [the] back four better, just our process was not [good]."

Palace winger Eberechi Eze, meanwhile, has acknowledged the impact injuries have had on his season ahead of the Eagles' visit to the Etihad Stadium.

"It's how football goes sometimes. I've picked up a few injuries here and there – I struggled to get a bit of rhythm," he said.

"It's good to be playing now and feeling a bit more free – I'm getting stronger and stronger each game.

"It's important for me to be playing and feeling good. I'm getting to where I think I'm performing. It's not the best – it's building. For sure, there is more to come. I'm enjoying football. Long may it continue."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Manchester City - Omar Marmoush

Marmoush has scored five goals in his last four home league appearances for City, taking his tally to 26 over the season for City and Eintracht Frankfurt.

It is also three goals in his last four City appearances in all competitions, having scored in the 2-1 victory away to Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-final last month.

Crystal Palace - Jean-Phillippe Mateta

Only Mohamed Salah (10) has scored more Premier League goals so far in 2025 than Mateta (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 (2004-05) and Eze (2023-24).

The Frenchman comes into this game with nine goals in his last 10 league matches, and 16 in all competitions throughout the course of the season.

MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER CITY WIN

City have lost just one of their last 12 Premier League games against Palace (won seven, drawn four), going down 2-0 at home in October 2021.

Following their 0-0 draw away to Manchester United in the league last weekend, Pep Guardiola's side have lost just one of their last seven matches in all competitions.

City have also lost just one of their last seven home league games, coming in a 2-0 defeat to runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool in February.

Palace, meanwhile, have failed to win any of their eight league games against teams currently in the top six of the Premier League, taking just four points.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY 

Manchester City – 60.3%

Draw – 20.5%

Crystal Palace – 19.2%