Crystal Palace vs. Man City: Pep Guardiola's side at risk of equalling unwanted 55-year feat by top-flight champions

Premier League champions Manchester City are at risk of equalling an unwanted 55-year feat when they take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

The Citizens entered the 2024-25 campaign on the back of winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title in the previous season, but they now face an uphill battle to retain their crown this term.

Pep Guardiola's side endured a seven-game winless run in all competitions, including four league defeats in a row, before arresting their recent slump by beating Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

After 14 matches, Man City sit fourth in the Premier League table and are nine points behind leaders Liverpool, while they are also two points behind both Chelsea and Arsenal in second and third respectively.

The Citizens will endeavour to win back-to-back league games in the space of just four days when they travel to South London to face a Crystal Palace side who are down in 17th place in the table, just three points above the relegation zone.

Man City out to avoid equalling their own unwanted record

Man City have a strong record away against Crystal Palace, as they are unbeaten in 10 visits to Selhurst Park in all competitions (W8 D2) since a 2-1 league defeat in September 2015.

The Citizens have won their last two trips to the Eagles, including a 4-2 victory in April of last season when Kevin De Bruyne (2), Rico Lewis and Erling Haaland all got their names on the scoresheet.

Palace, meanwhile, have only won two of their last 18 Premier League meetings with Man City (D4 L12), with both of those victories coming at the Etihad Stadium in December 2018 and October 2020.

However, Guardiola's men head into Saturday's contest having lost each of their last five competitive away games, including their last three Premier League matches on the road against Bournemouth (2-1), Brighton & Hove Albion (2-1) and Liverpool (2-0).

Not since February 1994 have Man City lost six away games in a row, while defeat at Crystal Palace this weekend will see them become the first reigning top-flight champions to lose six successive away matches in all competitions since Man City themselves between March and April 1969.

Man City can set new club record if they beat Crystal Palace

On the flip side, victory for Man City will see them set a new club record for winning seven consecutive top-flight matches away to London-based opposition.

The Citizens have already beaten West Ham United and Chelsea this season, while they previously won away against Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham, Brentford and Saturday's opponents Crystal Palace in 2023-24 during this run.

Man City have not dropped any Premier League points in the capital since sharing the spoils with Chelsea in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge in November 2023.