The Premier League’s early-season surprise packages collide on their return from the international break, with Crystal Palace welcoming Bournemouth to Selhurst Park.
Match News and Current Form
Crystal Palace spent the international break stewing on seeing their club-record 19-game unbeaten run ended by a 93rd-minute goal against Everton (2-1). The Eagles can still look back with pride on a brilliant start to the campaign that sees them inside the top six pre-round, with fast starts particularly key as Oliver Glasner’s men rank as the Premier League’s best first-half side so far this term (HT: W5, D2). Staying the course is another matter, but home comforts should help Palace as they’re unbeaten in each of their last nine league games on their own turf (W5, D4).
Unbeaten in six successive league matches since an opening day defeat to defending champions Liverpool (W4, D2), Bournemouth find themselves in the remarkable position of sitting just two points shy of the Premier League summit. Those four wins are as many as the Cherries managed in their prior 16 matches, while their next victory in the competition will be their 100th (D71, L141). Consolidating this dream start now depends on finding consistency on the road where Andoni Iraola’s men have won just twice in nine league trips (D4, L3), yet both were in London against Arsenal and Tottenham!
Head-to-Head History
Palace have remarkably failed to score across the last four H2Hs (D2, L2), but have only once previously blanked in five or more successive Premier League matches against the same opponent. Both meetings ended 0-0 last season, yet only four times in competition history has the same fixture seen three successive goalless draws.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Palace are the only Premier League team yet to concede before half-time this term.
Palace have gone 1-0 up in each of their last five games across all competitions.
Bournemouth have failed to score in just one of their last 18 away league games.
Each of Bournemouth’s last 102 Premier League goals (excluding own goals) have been scored by players under the age of 30.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
On target against Everton, Palace wing-back Daniel Muñoz has seen three of his last four goals arrive between the 30th and 40th minute. Justin Kluivert prefers to strike late with three of his last four Premier League strikes coming beyond the 60th minute, while ten of his last 12 goals in the competition came on the road.
Palace appear to have no new injuries, while Bournemouth could welcome Adam Smith back here.
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Betting Analysis
These sides appear evenly matched, and given this fixture’s lack of goals recently, backing under 2.5 goals seems smart.
Author: Ryan Fisher