Good morning! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's early Premier League kickoff as title-chasing Manchester City take on relegation-threatened Crystal Palace. Both sides could really do with a victory for very different reasons, so we should be in for an intriguing contest today. Let's start with a look at our hosts...

Following a relatively shaky to start to the season across all competitions, City have really started to hit full stride in the last couple of months and look like pushing Chelsea all the way in the defence of their crown. They have managed to somehow rescue their Champions League campaign - although a last-16 tie with Barcelona is certainly a daunting one - and the gap to Chelsea at the top of the Premier League is now just three points. There was a fear that City's defence of their title could be as meek as the last time they won it, but Pellegrini's side are fighting for it now.

Indeed, victory this afternoon would see them move level on points with Chelsea at the top of the pile, while a big enough victory - by a four-goal margin or more - would see them replace Jose Mourinho's side in pole position. Chelsea don't play until Monday, so it is a position that City would occupy for at least a couple of days, while also putting a lot of pressure on the title favourites, who have led the way pretty much from the start of the campaign so far.

They are certainly the form team in the league right now, stringing together an impressive seven-match winning streak in all competitions. Pellegrini couldn't have asked for a better response from his side, with this latest run coming following a six-match streak in which they lost and drew to CSKA Moscow, were beaten by West Ham United in the league and Newcastle United in the League Cup, and also dropped points to Queens Park Rangers. Since then they have beaten the likes of Bayern Munich, Roma, Everton and Southampton, and they will be confident of another victory today.

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the recent form for Pellegrini will be how his side have improved defensively. Chelsea are widely regarded as having the best back five in the league at the moment, but City are staking a claim having kept three clean sheets in a row and four in their last five. Indeed, only Chelsea and Southampton (both 13) have conceded fewer than City's 14 goals this season.

Things have been good at the other end of the field too, with City's tally of 33 goals being bettered by only Chelsea. Much of that has been down to the brilliant Sergio Aguero, however, and he is sidelined at the moment, meaning that others will need to step up. Dzeko and Jovetic are also out for this match, meaning that Pellegrini has been forced into naming a side without a recognised striker.

They have, however, managed to score in 13 consecutive Premier League games going into this one, which is the longest run of its kind in the top flight this season. Goals were certainly not an issue last season either, but one concern for Pellegrini compared to the title-winning 2013-14 campaign will be the home form. His side has already dropped more points at the Etihad this term as they did throughout the whole of last season, while in all competitions they have lost three times in front of their own fans. They are improving in that respect, with four wins in a row and only Chelsea taking points off them in their last five, but they don't quite look as invincible at home as they did last season.

City will be wary of this match, however, as they have a poor record against teams from the capital so far this season. Of the five Premier League games that they have failed to win, four have come against sides from London, with defeat to West Ham and draws against Arsenal, Chelsea and QPR. They do, however, have a relatively kind festive schedule to look forward to, with West Brom, Burnley and Sunderland next up, before taking on Sheffield Wednesday in the third round of the FA Cup. Pellegrini will be expecting maximum points from that spell.

He will also be expecting maximum points from this match today, particularly with Palace coming into the game in poor form. It has been something of a mixed bag for Neil Warnock at the club so far, with some fine results - such as victories over Merseyside duo Liverpool and Everton - being interspersed with some really disappointing ones - such as the recent defeat to Aston Villa.

There have been more bad results than good ones for a side that performed so well under Tony Pulis last season, though, and they find themselves just one point clear of the bottom three going into this match. They average less than a point a game, with just 15 from their 16 outings, which is a record that is almost certain to end in relegation if it stays that way. Warnock needs to find a way to string a few victories together, with Newcastle already showing what a sudden upturn in form can do for a club struggling near the bottom.

The festive period could well give Palace the opportunity to do that, with a couple of massive matches coming up for the Eagles. They may not be expecting much out of this game today, but QPR and Aston Villa - both of whom are expected to also face a relegation battle - are on the horizon. Before then they must take on Southampton who, despite their lofty league position, are in dreadful form and won't fancy a trip to Selhurst Park. This could be a season-defining spell for Warnock's side.

Interestingly, Palace's strengths this season seem to be exactly the opposite to what they were under Pulis. The Eagles were renowned for having a stingy defence last term, but only two teams in the league have conceded more than them this season. On the other hand, they struggled to find the back of the net under Pulis, while this season no-one in the bottom half has scored more goals than Palace's 19 - the same number as Liverpool have managed.

They have, however, changed a little in recent weeks, finding the net just two times in their last four games but also conceding just three. They have made themselves a little harder to beat of late, drawing three and losing just one of their last five outings, including back-to-back draws against Tottenham and Stoke coming into this game. However, they need to find a way to turn those draws into victories, as their comeback win over Liverpool remains their solitary success in their last 10 outings.

Selhurst Park is a traditionally difficult place to go for opposition teams, but Palace have struggled to replicate their home form on the road this season. They have only won one away game all season - albeit an impressive 3-2 victory over Everton at Goodison Park - and are without a win in their last five. However, of their eight matches on their travels this season, they have drawn four and lost three, so they are at least picking up fairly regular points.

Their last outing saw them held to a 1-1 draw against Stoke at Selhurst Park, and it is a result that would have annoyed Warnock having taken the lead in that game. They let their advantage slip within two minutes as Peter Crouch levelled the scores for the hosts, and failing to protect leads in such games could prove vital come the end of the season.

TEAM NEWS: There were questions over how Pellegrini would adapt to having Aguero, Dzeko and Jovetic all out, and the answer is to name no recognised strikers in a side that includes six changes. Milner or Silva are expected to play furthest forward for the hosts. Palace, meanwhile, make just the one change as Fraizer Campbell replaces the injured Marouane Chamakh. Full teams for both sides coming right up...

MAN CITY STARTING XI: Hart; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Kolarov; Fernandinho, Navas, Yaya Toure; Silva, Nasri, Milner

MAN CITY SUBS: Caballero, Boyata, Sagna, Fernando, Lampard, Ambrose, Sinclair

CRYSTAL PALACE STARTING XI: Speroni; Kelly, Dann, Hangeland, Ward; Bolasie, Jedinak, Ledley, McArthur, Puncheon; Campbell

CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Hennessey, Mariappa, Delaney, Bannan, Thomas, Zaha, Gayle

What can we make of those two teams, then? Well the biggest talking point for City is, of course, the striking situation. Aguero has been in such fine form this season that they were always going to miss him when he got injured, but to lose Dzeko and Jovetic at the same time is a huge blow for the champions. This will be a testing period for them and, if they can get through it unscathed, then they will be delighted as it could potential derail their title bid otherwise. The versatile Milner may be the one to play furthest forward today, although both Silva and Nasri are also candidates for that role.

Fernandinho and Jesus Navas are among those to be drafted into a much-changed side from the one that beat Leicester City last time out, replacing Fernando and Frank Lampard in the starting XI. Lampard exclusion is a particularly intriguing one as, in the absence of a recognised striker, there aren't many players you would bet on getting a goal more than Lampard. He equalled the great Thierry Henry's Premier League goal tally with the winner against Leicester, yet only starts on the bench this afternoon.

There are no fewer than three changes at the back, and the most conspicuous absentee is captain Vincent Kompany, who has suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury. The City defence looks half the unit without Kompany in there, so he is a huge loss to the champions. They will want to ensure that he is 100% fit to come back next time, however, as they can't afford to be without him for a lengthy period of time. After Aguero, you'd probably say that the Belgian defender is his side's most important player.

Martin Demichelis is the man who replaces Kompany in the side, and he has certainly shown himself to be a competent defender since his rocky start to life in English football. Zabaleta also returns on the right, with Sagna dropping to the bench, while Kolarov replaces Clichy on the opposite flank. They are backed up by Joe Hart in goal, with the England number one looking to make it four clean sheets in a row this afternoon.

The man looking to find a way past that defensive unit is Fraizer Campbell, and he will have fond memories of playing against City from last season. The striker netted three times in two games against the eventual champions while playing for Cardiff City last term, so will be looking to keep up an impressive personal record against Pellegrini's side. He will be backed by McArthur, who scored against Stoke last time out, as well as Puncheon.

The good news for Palace is that Joe Ledley has overcome a hip injury and is fit enough to start in midfield, once again partnering captain Mile Jedinak. The Australian has been his side's most important player this season, both in defence and attack. He has made more interceptions than any other player in the Premier League, while onlY Nathaniel Clyne of Southampton has made more tackles. In addition to that, he is Palace's top scorer, so he really is the key man for the Eagles today.

It is an unchanged back five for the visitors this afternoon, and they will no doubt be glad that there is no recognised striker to face. However, that could pose problems of their own, with the likes of Dann and Hangeland facing a different kind of test to the one they are used to playing. Whoever plays in the most advanced role would still have a tendency to drift into the hole, so the defenders must decide whether to go with him or stick to their usual positions.

PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes from kickoff at the Etihad, which means that it is time for a prediction! City are, of course, the heavy favourites going into this match, and I can't really see past them winning this game. They may not have a recognised striker, but the likes of Silva, Nasri and Toure all know where the goal is, and there is a small matter of Lampard on the bench as well. I will go for a 3-1 victory for the hosts.

It being the final match before Christmas, there was a particularly festive feel on the Sports Mole sofa this week. Listen to what we had to say about this match in our video preview below:

Unsurprisingly, City boast the superior recent record between these two sides, but their dominance over Palace stretches a lot further back than the investment that made them one of the big boys of English football. They have won their last six against the Eagles, with their last defeat coming way back in December 2001, when Palace ran out 2-1 in a second tier match.

That result came at Selhurst Park, and you have to go all the way back to 1990 to find their last win at City, Ian Wright scoring the second in a 2-0 win at Maine Road. It is 19 years since Palace beat City in the top flight, while they haven't even scored a goal past the Citizens since January 2005.

The players are out and we're almost ready to go on a big afternoon for both sides. City are looking to move top of the table, while Palace will be hoping for a major upset.

KICKOFF: Crystal Palace get us underway here as they look to edge further away from the bottom three. Can they pull off an upset or will City make it eight wins in a row in all competitions?

SHOT! An early sight of goal for the hosts as Zabaleta bombs down the right flank, latching on to a pass from Navas to slide him in down the channel. He pulls a low pass back into the middle for Nasri, who fires a low strike a couple of yards past the post.

As expected, Milner has started this match furthest forward for City. He has now played as a defender, midfielder and striker for the club this season, and his versatility is proving to be a real asset for a club that has struggled with injuries.

This has been a positive start to the match from Palace, who are really trying to get on the front foot in the opening exchanges. They have already caused a couple of nervy moments for the City defence, but Hart has so far been protected.

SHOT! Intricate football from the hosts after a poor clearance from McArthur allowed them to continue their pressure. Eventually the ball is teed up for Fernandinho, but the midfielder skies his 25-yard effort well over the crossbar.

Silva drops into the pocket and looks to pull the strings with an incisive pass down the right for Zabaleta. The full-back wins a corner, but the delivery is poor and Kolarov can't make anything of it at the front post.

City are looking quite comfortable at the moment, with Palace struggling to create much going forward since their bright start to the match. The hosts are controlling the ball and passing it well, which is making things difficult for the visitors.

There has been a change of tactics for Palace in the last few minutes, with Bolasie moving into a central role and Campbell switching out to the left. Bolasie is probably Palace's most dangerous player going forward, so Zabaleta will be glad that he has moved away from him for now!

SHOT! City try a free kick straight from the training ground, but Palace prevent the ball from being slid through to Milner. It still falls to Nasri just outside the area, but the French midfielder drills a low effort a few yards wide.

Dangerous play from Palace as Campbell and Bolasie link up on the left side, with the latter skipping away from his man and fizzing a dangerous ball into the middle. Hart has to be alert to palm the cross away, and he is fortunate that the ball falls to a blue shirt.

Another testing cross for Hart to deal with as he just about gets enough on a wicked Puncheon delivery, with Jedinak momentarily looking like he had got in front of the keeper. City look to break quickly, but Milner's cross is blocked and Palace deal with the danger.

CHANCE! Big sight of goal for Palace as City struggle to deal with a floated cross into the box. The ball is only cleared as far as Bolasie, who nods it back into the middle. Campbell meets it with a textbook bicycle kick from close range, but his effort goes just past the far post. The hosts thought that he was offside, but the replays show that the linesman was right to keep his flag down.

Palace are enjoying a really good spell at the moment, boasting 68% possession in the last five minutes. They are asking plenty of questions of City, and look the most likely to break the deadlock right now.

SHOT! Just like that, though, City can break through. Nasri, Milner and Silva play some lovely football to get down the left channel, but the latter is just forced too wide. He plays it back to Milner, who in turn picks out Toure on the edge of the box, but his measured effort is well off target.

CHANCE! More nice play from City, with Nasri at the heart of it this time. He skips his way into the box before cutting back and playing a short pass back to Silva, but Palace just get a foot in as the Spaniard was about to add the finishing touch.

CHANCE! Another chance falls the way of Silva, this time from the left flank. Kolarov latches on to a pass down the wing and swings an early low cross towards the near post. Silva has made a good run to meet it, but he mis-kicks his effort and it goes behind for a goal kick.

CHANCE! The chances are really starting to flow here. Again City come forward down the left, with Kolarov and Toure playing a clever one-two to get the full-back in. He pulls it back into the box and the ball eventually falls to Toure, but once again he can't keep it down.

Palace counter quickly at the other end as the ball is slid through for Campbell to latch on to. He tries to round Hart, but he runs out of space and takes the ball out of place. Good response to some heavy recent pressure from the visitors.

Palace are packing out the central areas, but City are getting plenty of joy down the wings now. They are playing some slick, one-touch passes to break through the visiting defence, and it is very easy on the eye.

Palace will certainly be content with their performance in the opening half an hour of this one, however. They have been under the cosh at times in this match, but they have also had positive spells of their own. City haven't had things all their own way by any means.

Dangerous play from Milner as he makes it down the right channel before firing an early ball across the face of goal. It is another difficult one for Palace to deal with, but the manage to clear the danger once again. They are struggling to stop City from progressing down the channels at the moment, though.

YELLOW CARD! The first card of the game goes the way of Kolarov for a bodycheck on Puncheon as the Palace man look to race beyond his man.

SHOT! Half a chance for Palace as another free kick causes City problems. Hangeland flicks the ball on towards the back post, where Bolasie is waiting. Zabaleta fails to cut it out, but the Palace winger lashes his shot into the side-netting from an impossible angle.

One of the standout moments of the match so far, and possibly Palace's best chance, was the overhead kick from Campbell. Here is a shot of the acrobatic effort from the striker:

Palace look to hit City on the break, with Campbell leading the charge. He holds it up well before getting support in the shape of Jedinak, who quickly gives it back to the striker. He tries to make it beyond two more players but is stopped in his tracks as City survive the scare.

YELLOW CARD! Puncheon was given a belated yellow card for an earlier challenge on Nasri, with Phil Dowd playing the advantage before bring it back for the caution.

CHANCE! Huge chance for City to take the lead! City knock the ball about in midfield before Toure slides an inch-perfect pass into the box for Zabaleta. The right-back waits for Speroni to go down before scooping it over the keeper, but the ball goes inches past the post. So close!

City are really piling the pressure on at the end of the half, and once again Kolarov causes problems down the left with a dangerous first-time cross into the middle. It is so inviting for any City players in the middle, but they just can't reach it and Palace just about deal with the danger.

There will be just the one minute of added time at the end of this first half.

The teams go in for half time, and we are still goalless at the Etihad despite a number of decent chances in the first half. It has been a very intriguing match so far, with both sides spending time in the ascendancy, but City will feel that they have had the better of it so far. We are set up very nicely for the second 45, though.

The best chance of the match came right at the end of the first half, when Toure threaded a magnificent through-ball to Zabaleta inside the box. The full-back scooped the ball over the keeper having waited for him to go down, but his effort went narrowly past the post. It was lovely football from the hosts, who have played nice stuff all game, but the cutting edge was just missing.

The likes of Silva, Toure and Nasri have all had shooting opportunities and should have done better, but each time they have failed to hit the target. Indeed, for all of City's possession and slick passing, they are yet to have a shot on target. Their lack of a recognised striker is certainly showing at the moment, and they need to find a way past that in the second half.

Palace have certainly had their moments in this match so far, and Warnock will be very happy with that opening 45 minutes as they have caused City problems. Their best chance fell to Campbell, who pulled off a fine bicycle kick from close range having been just played offside - despite the home side's protests. His effort went just past the far post, however, as City escaped.

Bolasie has also had a decent opportunity at the far post following Hangeland's flick-on from a free kick. However, the winger probably chose the wrong decision by going for goal from a really tight angle, slamming his effort into the side-netting when he could have played it back across the face of goal.

I mentioned before the match that it was a surprise that Lampard didn't play given City's lack of a recognised striker, and I can't imagine that it will be long before we see him if this remains 0-0. No changes for either side at the break, however.

KICKOFF: We're back underway for the second half as Man City get things started once again.

Bright start from the hosts as they break down the left, with Kolarov once again storming down the flank. His low ball is flicked on at the near post, which makes it difficult for Ledley in the middle. However, the midfielder manages to get enough on the ball to poke it over the top rather than into his own net.

This time the hosts come down the right flank, with Nasri moving sideways across the field before giving the pass out to Navas. The Spaniard fizzes a ball again towards the near post, but it deflects into the arms of Speroni.

Finally, City have the breakthrough. It is more lovely football from the hosts, but there is a huge amount of luck involved in the finish. Fernandinho slides a fine pass in to Zabaleta, who cuts it back for Silva. The Spaniard's effort is on target, but takes a huge deflection off Dann that sees it bounce up and over Speroni.

SHOT! The hosts go in search of a quick second, but not for the first time today Toure is unable to keep his shot down. Silva is the architect again, sliding a square ball to his midfield partner, but the subsequent drilled effort is way over the top.

The pressure has been pretty much relentless since the restart, with City making a very bright start to the second half. Palace have struggled to get going, meanwhile, and they are being forced to weather a storm here.

Bolasie looks to provide a spark for his side, cutting inside onto his left foot before curling an effort towards the far post. It is not clear whether it was a shot or a cross, but either way it ends up harmlessly behind Hart's goal.

Dangerous play from Navas down the right. He speeds past one defender before playing a testing loss pass into the middle. Milner very nearly sneaks in to poke it beyond Speroni, but Dann gets a vital foot in to clear the danger.

Some of City's football today has been a joy to watch, but there will also be the concern that the lack of a recognised striker has been evident at times. This could be two or three at least had the likes of Aguero been playing, and the sooner Pellegrini gets his frontmen back the better.

Yet again Manchester City threaten down the channels. Silva this time slips in Navas, whose drilled low ball across the face is well defended. It bounces back out to Silva, but his cross is put behind for a corner.

City have their second goal, and it is Silva who doubles his personal tally for the afternoon. This time it comes from the left flank as Kolarov fizzes a low ball into the middle. Silva finds a yard of space in the middle and just guides the ball past Speroni from inside the box.

Silva may have got both goals here, but the City full-backs have been instrumental in the success. Time after time, City have enjoyed success down the flanks, with the overlapping runs of Zabaleta and Kolarov causing plenty of problems.

Palace more than held their own in the first half, but they have been outclassed since the break. City have dominated the second half so far and are certainly worthy of this two-goal lead. It is hard to see any way back for the visitors right now.

CRYSTAL PALACE SUB: Warnock looks to his bench for the first time this afternoon as Wilfried Zaha replaces Campbell.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Palace have the ball in the back of the net, but it won't count. It was another header from McArthur, who also scored against Stoke last week, planting his effort into a far corner from Bolasie's cross. The linesman's flag is up, but the replays show that he was well onside. It should have stood!

MAN CITY SUB: Two-goal David Silva's work is done this afternoon as he makes way for Frank Lampard. Not a bad sub to be able to bring on!

Palace really could have done with that disallowed goal standing, as it should have. Fernandinho was right in front of the linesman and played McArthur a few yards onside, so it was a poor decision from the official.

That goal could well have tested the nerves of City, but with the two-goal lead intact they are looking pretty comfortable right now. With the joy they have had down the flanks already today, you wouldn't bet against them adding a third before this one is over.

Palace have been forced into countless clearances inside the box this afternoon. Almost every delivery has been a low one into the box, which is nullifying Palace's superior aerial presence inside the box. Again City come down the right thanks to some good play from Navas, but Milner's eventual delivery is dealt with by Dann.

Bolasie does well to spin away from his man and move into space in front of him. However, not for the first time his final ball and decision-making is poor as he gives the ball away when looking for Zaha.

Silva has been the difference between these two sides with his two goals so far, although there are a number of City players who have also contributed to the fine team performance. Here is the little Spaniard celebrating his opener with his teammates:

YELLOW CARD! James Milner goes into the book for a robust challenge on Jedinak. Those two have been involved in a running battle this afternoon.

That is surely game over now as City add their third of the afternoon. The hosts hit Palace on the break, with Navas leading the charge forward. He gives the ball to Milner, who in turn slides a pass inside for Toure. The big midfielder takes a touch before lashing a thunderbolt off the post and in. There was no stopping that one!

MAN CITY SUB: Pellegrini makes a change straight after the goal, with Milner, who had been suffering a little with cramp, being replaced by Fernando.

CRYSTAL PALACE SUB: The visitors make a change of their own, with Jerome Thomas coming on for Puncheon.

City look happy to just see this match out now. They were always expected to win the game, but it was a good test for them. They have scored three goals without a recognised striker and also look like keeping another clean sheet without Kompany.

Palace have done a decent job of defending the middle of the pitch in this match, packing it out and limiting room. However, they have been undone down the wings time and time again, and that is where all of City's joy has come today.

MAN CITY SUB: A late change for City and it is a rare appearance for Scott Sinclair as he replaces Nasri.

CRYSTAL PALACE SUB: The visitors also make a change as Barry Bannan comes on for a couple of minutes, replacing Ledley.

There will be a minimum of three minutes added time at the end of this match.

One more goal would actually send City top of the table for two days at least, with Chelsea not playing until Monday. As things stand, they will be level on points and one goal behind Chelsea on goal difference.

CLOSE! Almost a late consolation for Palace as Zaha plays a low ball towards the near post. Demichelis dives in and gets a foot to it, turning it just a yard or so past his own post.

Phil Dowd brings an end to proceedings at the Etihad, with City running out 3-0 winners over Crystal Palace courtesy of a David Silva brace and a Yaya Toure strike. All of the goals came in the second half, with the midfielders stepping up to the plate in the absence of a recognised strikers.

That is all we have time for today! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole on what was a big day for Manchester City as they move level on points with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction, analysis and player ratings. Our coverage of the 3pm games are already underway, so be sure to check in for them too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!