Teams haven't sussed out Manchester City, says Manuel Pellegrini
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has denied Premier League rivals have worked his team out.
City were held to a goalless draw by Everton on Wednesday despite dominating the chances and remain three points behind league leaders Arsenal.
But Pellegrini is confident that was an aberration, saying: "One of the things this team is not is predictable. We have so many different ways to play - with two strikers, with one striker, without strikers.
"We've changed the tactical system a lot of times so I think we continue being, after three seasons when I'm in charge, the top scoring team of the Premier League. Not only at home but away also, we always try to be an offensive team.
"If we don't score once, having 17 shots at goal, it's just an accident, but I don't think it's because our rivals know the way they must play.
"Not one team in the Premier League has played against our team hand to hand, they are always waiting for us, with eight or nine players behind the ball near their box. We try to make the movement to create space."
City face Crystal Palace on Saturday for the third time this season.
They secured a late win in the league at Selhurst Park in September before a very convincing 5-1 victory in the Capital One Cup.
Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho has scored in both games, and Pellegrini could be tempted to give him more game time this weekend.
The City boss said: "I always say with young players, if they are working every day with the team and they play some games, they must take their chance, and I think every time Kelechi has played, he has done very well.
"We talked to the FA last season to have his work permit (sorted) because I especially think he will be a very important player."
Pellegrini will select from the same squad that faced Everton, with Vincent Kompany, Eliaquim Mangala, Fernandinho, Samir Nasri and Wilfried Bony all still out.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has confirmed he is considering a transfer for Emmanuel Adebayor.
The former Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham striker remains a free agent having been released by Spurs in September, and could prove a suitable option with Pardew targeting a goalscorer.
For all the creativity provided by Wilfried Zaha, Yannick Bolasie and Yohan Cabaye, Palace's total of 22 Premier League goals is the lowest of any team in the division's top 12 and could undermine what has so far been a promising season.
A potential move for Adebayor is far from close, but he is a proven Premier League striker who has previously interested Pardew, who is expected to recall Connor Wickham at Manchester City on Saturday.
Pardew said: "Adebayor is a player that is there for somebody and it is a question of ourselves looking at that one and wondering where the right club for him is and whether he is the right player for us.
"It's something that is in our mix and we'll have to wait and see.
"We are trying to bring a striker in - whether permanently or on loan - and myself and Steve (Parish, Palace's chairman) are making a lot of phone calls to try and resolve that.
"You want to try and bring in a quality player and so therefore you can't dismiss anyone, or not think about all the strikers that are possibly available.
"Of course 90 per cent of them are not available, they're at clubs and they're on good contracts and the clubs want them because they are successful. There are not many who have not been in the first team. It is a very, very small market for us and we are focusing on that.
"(Adebayor) is in that group. Not just for us but many teams in the Premier League to wonder whether that is something you can do a deal with.
"We still think another striker in the group would pay dividends given the position we're in as we're four (actually five) points off the Champions League positions.
"Although we are in a little negative period in terms of our (recent) results, our results overall are still strong. In four of those games, we've got draws even though we haven't scored. Two or three wins, and we would be really kicking ourselves if we didn't strengthen."
Pardew remains without the injured Bolasie for Saturday's Premier League fixture but could again have Dwight Gayle available after the forward's return to training.
Source: PAR
