Crystal Palace will look to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they face Southampton at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon.
After making a slow start to the season, the Eagles appeared to be finally moving in the right direction, however their progress has stalled in recent weeks.
Oliver Glasner’s side have won just one of their last four Premier League games, though they did battle their way to a 0-0 draw away at Bournemouth on Boxing Day.
Consequently, Palace are currently positioned in 16th place in the Premier League table, three points above the relegation zone.
As for Southampton, they failed to benefit from a new manager bounce from Ivan Juric on Boxing Day when losing 1-0 at home to West Ham.
That latest setback has left the out-of-sorts Saints rooted to the foot of the table and nine points adrift from safety.
How the bookies view it: Palace to sink Saints
Crystal Palace are short-priced 6/10 favourites on Boylesports to bank all three points on Sunday afternoon.
Southampton are as big as 4/1 on Boylesports to secure their first Premier League away win of the season, while a share of the Selhurst Park spoils has been priced up at 14/5 with the same firm.
Head to head: History favours the hosts
Crystal Palace can draw confidence from their recent record against Southampton, having triumphed in four of the last five Premier League meetings between the pair. Furthermore, the Eagles have kept a clean sheet in their last two victories over the Saints – a repeat here can be backed at 7/4 with Boylesports.
Players to watch: Mateta to make his mark?
Three of Jean-Philippe Mateta’s four Premier League goals for Crystal Palace this season have come against newly-promoted sides. Thus, the French forward looks well placed to add to his tally with an anytime strike at 6/4 (Boylesports) against struggling Southampton.
Flynn Downes has been booked seven times across his 16 appearances for Southampton this season. The tough-tackling midfielder is a general 13/8 to collect another card during this contest.
Predicted line-ups
Marc Guehi will miss out for Crystal Palace after accumulating his fifth yellow card of the season against Bournemouth on Boxing Day. Will Hughes is a doubt after being forced off with a knock last time out.
As was the case against West Ham, new Saints boss Juric will be unable to call upon the services of Gavin Bazunu, Ross Stewart and Will Smallbone.
Crystal Palace: Henderson; Clyne, Lacroix, Chalobah; Munoz, Doucoure, Lerma, Mitchell; Eze, Nketiah, Mateta
Southampton: Ramsdale; Wood, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek; Sugawara, Ugochukwu, Downes, Walker-Peters; Fernandes; Armstrong, Onuachu
Anything else catch the eye?
Combining Crystal Palace to win alongside under 4.5 goals will bring about an eye-catching even-money (1/1) shot on the Boylesports Bet Builder tool.
This combination would have clicked in each of the Eagles’ three Premier League victories this season so far.
It’s also worth noting that this bet would have proven profitable in 10 of Southampton's 14 top-flight defeats this term to date.
This English Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Southampton will be played on Dec 29, 2024 and kick off at 15:00. Check below for our tipsters best Crystal Palace vs Southampton prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
