Crystal Palace vs Southampton FC, English Premier League 2024-25, Today Match Prediction

Crystal Palace vs Southampton FC Match Prediction & Analysis

Southampton will be desperate for just their second Premier League win of the 2024-25 season when they visit Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Sunday. The Saints, rooted to the bottom of the table, come into the match on the back of a frustrating 1-0 defeat to West Ham. Meanwhile, Palace, sitting in 16th, were held to a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth on Boxing Day. Both teams will be hungry for points, making this clash a crucial one in their battle to climb the table.

Current Standings: With 17 points from 18 games, Crystal Palace are currently placed 16th in the points table, while Southampton find themselves at the last place in the table  with just 6 points. 

Head-to-Head Record: There’s a glimmer of hope for Southampton as it holds an upper hand in this rivalry with a win-loss record of 14-7  in 28  matches. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Crystal Palace Preview

If we neglect that 5-1 result against Arsenal, Crystal Palace have had a strong run of six games ( 2 W, 4D) where they have remained unbeaten.What stands out is that four of these games were on the road, and five were against teams in the top half of the table. The Eagles have handled these tough challenges with resilience, and now, they face a chance to capitalize on their form. With two upcoming fixtures against relegation-threatened teams, Palace will be keen to bag full points, starting this Sunday. It’s the perfect opportunity for the Eagles to turn their recent performances into crucial victories.

Jean-Philippe Mateta is known for his goal-scoring instinct, and while this season hasn't seen him hit the heights of last year's blistering form, he’s still a potent threat. With just four goals to his name, it’s telling that three of them have come against newly promoted teams. When Mateta finds his rhythm against these sides, he’s a menace in front of goal, and he will have that opportunity in the next couple of games. 

Crystal Palace has struggled at home this season, managing just one win alongside four draws and four losses. They share the record for the most draws in this year’s Premier League, with eight, tying with Everton. Notably, 33% of their goals have been scored during the 46th to 60th minute, highlighting a key period of their attacking play.

Team News 

Crystal Palace will be without Matheus Franca, Adam Wharton, and Franco Umeh-Chibueze for Sunday's clash, while Will Hughes remains a doubt after limping off early in the second half against Bournemouth while Marc Guehi is suspended for the upcoming game. 

Crystal Palace Probable XI -Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Richards; Munoz, Doucoure, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Eze

Southampton FC Preview

Southampton's Boxing Day clash marked the debut of new manager Ivan Juric, but his tenure began with a tough 1-0 loss to West Ham.Southampton sits rock bottom with just six points from 18 games, trailing 17th-placed Wolves by nine points. Manager Ivan Juric faces an uphill battle to keep the Saints in the Premier League. With back-to-back home clashes against Brentford and Swansea City in the league and FA Cup looming, Juric will be desperate for a result at Selhurst Park to ignite a much-needed turnaround. 

The contrast between former Saints boss Russell Martin and new manager Ivan Juric is stark, particularly in their approach to the game. Juric, known for his high-intensity, off-the-ball philosophy—an area where Southampton has struggled this season—not necessarily a high defensive line. 

Much of the Saints' frequent interceptions have happened in central areas inside their box highlighting their issues in preventing dangerous attacks before it escalates. In contrast, Juric’s Torino sides excelled at limiting chances in the penalty area by disrupting play in the midfield, especially in deeper defensive zones. This proactive approach could be the key to tightening Southampton's leaky defence.

Team News 

Southampton will be without Gavin Bazunu, Ross Stewart, Jack Stephens, and Will Smallbone due to injuries. Despite the 1-0 loss to West Ham, there were bright spots for the Saints, who are likely to stick with the 3-4-3 formation. However, a shake-up in attack could see youngster Tyler Dibling given a chance to make an impact in the final third.

Southampton Probable XI - Ramsdale (GK) ; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood-Gordon, Sugawara, Downes, Ugochukwu, Walker-Peters, Dibling, Fernandes, Onuachu

CRYSTAL PALACE vs SOUTHAMPTON FC
Winning Prediction

Southampton currently sits at the bottom of the league standings, which means, in an ideal scenario, Crystal Palace, playing at home, should not have a problem disposing of the Saints. However, their home record (1 W, 4D, 4L) isn't inspiring much confidence. That said, the Saints have gone winless in their last three visits to Selhurst Park (D1, L2). All indications point towards a cagey match at best. Meanwhile, in terms of odds, Crystal Palace is the favorite to win this match, with odds of 1.66 to Southampton's 5.80 and 4.25 for a draw.

Crystal Palace to Win (2-1)

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