Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew plans to prolong Manchester City's recent lapse
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew is hoping to put a dent in Manchester City's title hopes when the sides meet at Selhurst Park.
After a strong start to the season, City have dropped to third in the Premier League table with only one win in their last five matches - but despite the lapse, the Eagles' boss believes Pep Guardiola's men have what it takes to win the league.
Palace lost all three games against the Manchester side last year - twice in the league and once in the Capital One Cup - but Pardew believes they can come out on top on Saturday.
He said: "They are certainly a team who could win the title. They have a world class manager and world class players, that always helps...
"I think they would like to put this recent run behind them and get back to winning ways on a consistent level.
"Their performance against Barcelona was a highlight of the season, they can reach heights few can reach.
"I think the Spurs game in particular was a bit of a shock for them because Spurs were terrific on the day.
"We have watched most of City's games. They have the ability to win the league and hopefully we will put a dent in it."
A run of five league games without a win has not helped Palace's cause - but Pardew does not believe his team are in a relegation battle, although he is keen for a change of fortune.
He said: "We need to improve (all over), there is no doubt about that.
"I think the result at Burnley (a 3-2 defeat) was a big blow for us because it was a game where we played well, got ourselves back into and we got carried away thinking we should try and win the game with seconds remaining.
"I don't think that is a bad thing but we left ourselves short and that has put pressure on us, pressure we are going to have to deal with.
"We are in a position in the league which is false and we need to rectify that before we get to February.
"There are some fantastic players in our team. I am not even thinking that we are in a relegation battle, to be honest. We have just got to make sure that in the next few weeks we get some important results.
"Two wins could take you to mid-table, there is a long way to go yet."
Palace will be without goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, who is expected to be out for a couple of weeks with a knee injury. Wayne Hennessey will start.
Joe Ledley and Lee Chung-yong (both knocks) face late fitness tests after international duty while Loic Remy (thigh) has had a slight setback and Pape Souare (broken leg) is still not walking.
Meanwhile, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has no complaints about his players' heavy schedule.
Twelve of City's squad have played international football over the past fortnight and Guardiola concedes some of them are tired.
The fitness issues do concern him but the Spaniard knows he has to find ways to cope.
He said: "As quickly as possible (we need them) involved again in our reality, but they need time. They are human beings.
"Today the schedule is so stressful for the players. I rest but the players don't. It is so demanding - 11 months and after that two or three weeks off and then 11 months again, and you cannot lose or play badly.
"That is why you have to handle that sometimes. When you see they are down, take them up, but every player is different.
"When some of them come back from the national team their regeneration is quicker than others, for the physical condition, for many many things.
"I am still getting to know my players, how they react after that situation, but it is important they come back good.
"We have a game and a final in Germany in three or four days and three days later we have Burnley, so everyone is going to play."
In this instance Guardiola said he had no fresh injury concerns but that his South American contingent - Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho, Nicolas Otamendi and Pablo Zabaleta - were feeling the strain most.
He said: "All the players came back good, fit but the players who played 90 minutes and (another) 90 minutes are tired, especially the South American players."
Source: PAR
