Manchester City in the opening 21 minutes:

78% possession.

5 shots.

4 corners.

1 shot on target.

But still goalless...

Jayraj: Pep's decision to start John Stones in the midfield due to Fernandinho's absence is certainly surprising. Stones seems to struggle in the starting minutes as he has already lost possession more than twice.

Andy: The one area of the pitch that I don't think we have a good replacement for is 'The Fernandinho' role, Stones is not good enough.

City are dominating but it remains goalless and Pep Guardiola wants more urgency from his players.

The ball rolls out of play close to the Manchester City manager who, quick as a flash, rushes over to pick it up and throws it to one of his players.

Image source, AFP

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

City are yet to make the breakthrough but their fans are enjoying themselves - singing "bring back Mourinho" in reference to the recently departed Manchester United manager and his less than glowing record during his time across town.

They have barely finished belting out a couple of choruses about Jose when Leroy Sane fires into the side-netting from a tight angle - everyone near my spot in the press box on the halfway line was up on their feet... they thought that was in.

Surely it's only a matter of time...

A mis-hit by Raheem Sterling inside the penalty area falls to Bernardo Silva whose first-time attempt is blocked.

Palace are just about holding on.

Image source, Reuters

Boos from the home fans as Wilfried Zaha goes down again after another brush with Nicolas Otamendi.

Moments later the Palace man wins a free-kick after a foul by Aymeric Laporte.

Zaha is causing a nuisance and making up for lost time on his return from a ban.

No shock in the way Palace are setting up at the Etihad.

The visitors are sitting back and looking to burst forward on the counter.

It's already looking like a long afternoon for the visitors.

City sweep forward again, Leroy Sane rippling the side-netting after getting behind the defence.

Three City corners in the opening eight minutes.

The third almost results in an own goal but Palace just about do enough to scramble the ball clear.

Wilfried Zaha is down inside the City penalty area after John Stones loses possession on the halfway line. The challenge is from Nicolas Otamendi and referee Andre Marriner does not see anything illegal.

Zaha is unhappy!

Image source, Reuters

The corner comes to nothing and Palace, albeit briefly, have managed to touch the ball.

A whopping 92% possession for Pep Guardiola's side in the opening five minutes.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Drizzle falling steadily at the Etihad as City get this game started... Palace will just be hoping it doesn't start raining goals - they have lost 5-0 on their past two trips here.

Almost the perfect start by City!

Palace are unable to get a touch before Fabian Delph forces Vicente Guaita into a finger-tip save from distance.

An absolute scorcher from the City skipper.

Warm handshake and smiles between Roy Hodgson and Pep Guardiola before kick-off.

Will the Crystal Palace boss be smiling at full-time?

We're under way.

Image source, Getty Images

Guy Mowbray
Match of the Day commentator

Twenty eight years to the day after Crystal Palace last won a league game in Manchester, they go to the Etihad Stadium in search of a Christmas miracle.

Since a 2-0 win at Maine Road, thanks to Ian Wright and a Neil Pointon own goal, the Eagles have taken just four points from 24 visits to City and United, suffering particularly heavy defeats on the blue side in recent years.

In the here and now, Roy Hodgson's team has won two of their last four games - but their chances of ending the last remaining 100% home record in the country are close to those of hearing reindeer land on your roof on Monday night.

Who believes?

Image source, Getty Images

Stephen Warnock
Ex-Liverpool defender on Final Score

I think Raheem Sterling is in the discussion for Player of the Season. He has been superb, he has matured over the last few years on and of the pitch.

Pep Guardiola got the best out of him, taught him how to get in at the back post and pinch goals, tap ins, the ones you love to see your wingers score.

John Stones played in midfield at Leicester in the League Cup midweek and he lines up there again with Fernandinho not even in the Manchester City squad.

That's one of two changes from the starting XI which beat Everton in the Premier League last weekend, the other seeing Raheem Sterling come in for Riyad Mahrez.

Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne start on the bench.

Image source, #bbcfootball

Crystal Palace broke their hoodoo without Wilfried Zaha last weekend - now their talismanic forward is back.

Zaha replaces Jordan Ayew as Roy Hodgson makes three changes from the win over Leicester.

Midfielder Jeff Schlupp and centre-back James Tomkins also come in, with Cheikhou Kouyate and Martin Kelly sidelined through injury.

Image source, #bbcfootball

Thirteen days and counting before leaders Liverpool visit the Etihad for what promises to be a huge match in the race for the title.

Liverpool's 2-0 win at Wolves on Friday means Jurgen Klopp's side will spend Christmas Day looking down on the rest.

Yet Pep Guardiola's Manchester City can cut the gap to one point with victory over Crystal Palace at the Etihad.

Let's get some team news...

Knocked off the top and no longer the Christmas No 1.

Image source, Getty Images

How will the reigning champions respond?

Image source, AFP

Over to you Manchester City.

Image source, Getty Images