Premier League football is back this weekend, so here’s our Aston Villa Vs Crystal Palace preview, prediction, team news and predicted lineups ahead of Saturday’s game.
Aston Villa Vs Crystal Palace Preview
Unai Emery lost four games on the bounce for the first time in his managerial career as Villa faltered before the international break.
A loss to Saturday’s opponents, Palace, in the EFL Cup started their poor run. They have since slipped to ninth in the Premier League and were beaten in by Club Brugge in the Champions League.
Villa lost 2-0 at Liverpool last time out, but despite their rough period, are still only a point below Chelsea in third.
A win this weekend could therefore take Villa right back up the standings. However, with just four points between third and 13th at the moment, defeat could see them tumble into the bottom half.
Palace have not won at Villa Park since December 2013 – their only away win at Villa. They did win the last league meeting between the two sides, in a 5-0 demolition at Selhurst Park last season, but victories over Villa have been few and far between.
In 24 Premier League meetings, Palace have beaten Aston Villa just three times.
Oliver Glasner’s side are also in a poor run of form. They lost 2-0 to Fulham before the international break, and have picked up just seven points from their 11 games.
Neither side can afford to lose this one, but Palace least of all, with the Eagles currently in the relegation zone.
Back at Villa Park and back in action 🔜 pic.twitter.com/UyzDiaR8Nf
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 20, 2024
Aston Villa Vs Crystal Palace Team News
Villa have lost Amadou Onana and Jacob Ramsey to injury in recent weeks. Belgian international Onana picked up a foot problem over the international break, and withdrew from his side’s Nations League fixture.
Boubacar Kamara is also nursing a hamstring issue, while Pau Torres (muscle) and Ezri Konsa (hip) are doubts for Saturday.
Matty Cash is back, though, and should slot in at right-back. England’s hat-trick hero Ollie Watkins will likely start up top, with skipper John McGinn fresh from his own scoring antics with Scotland.
For Palace, they must content without the suspended Daichi Kamada after his red card against Fulham.
Oliver Glasner’s injury list includes Adam Wharton, though it is hoped all three of Eberechi Eze, Jefferson Lerma and Chadi Riad might be fit for the weekend.
In attack, Jean-Philippe Mateta has been in fine form, and is expected to lead the line for the visitors. The Frenchman has scored more Premier League goals (4) against Villa than against any other club.
Aston Villa Vs Crystal Palace Predicted Lineups
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Barkley, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Doucoure, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Schlupp; Mateta
Aston Villa Vs Crystal Palace Prediction
The international break probably came at the right time for Aston Villa. Struggling to compete on multiple fronts and losing their form, they have now been given chance to reset.
Palace have not won at Villa Park in over a decade, and we can’t see that changing on Saturday.
The visitors’ away from is also terrible so far this season, so a point would be a great return.
For these reasons, we predict Unai Emery’s Villa side to bounce back with a win this weekend.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Crystal Palace
