Does Southampton’s slump continue?
Crystal Palace vs Southampton is a mid-table clash in the Premier League. The Eagles are still in the safe zone, the Saints, on the other hand, have to look down after a negative series. That’s what makes this game so explosive.
In the run-up to the Crystal Palace vs Southampton game, the betting odds show that the hosts go into the game as favourites. The Eagles’ form alone is slightly better than the visitors’, and coach Patrick Vieira’s club also have the edge in terms of squad composition.
Meanwhile, it could get uncomfortable for Southampton with another poor result. The game at Selhurst Park kicks off at 8:30pm on Wednesday.
Crystal Palace – Statistics & current form
Crystal Palace are playing a decent season overall. The team was strengthened in the summer with some young players and has managed to develop its own identity very quickly. Patrick Vieira as coach gives the team freedom and has already celebrated some successes, especially at home. Here, the Eagles lost only one of eight games. The reward is a place in the secure midfield.
Before the match between Crystal Palace and Southampton, the odds of the best bookmakers show that the hosts are the favourites. However, this favourite role is not completely clear, with odds of more than 2.0 for a home win, there is at least a residual scepticism.
Perhaps this is because Crystal Palace have lost five of their last eight games at home to Southampton. However, home strength has really been a factor this season and the London club face a struggling opponent. In addition, the Vieira eleven have confidence and a win under their belt with the 3-1 win over Everton.
Crystal Palace must move away from the relegation zone
To enjoy a quiet period around the holidays, the hosts will be looking to pick up a win and distance themselves even further from the critical zone in the Premier League. With 19 points currently, the lead over the first relegation place is eight points, which already seems relatively comfortable. With Watford, Tottenham and Norwich, the next opponents are all doable.
So the current situation for the hosts is quite respectable. Crystal Palace have it in their own hands to play successfully and establish themselves in midfield. This is the developmental step Vieira was expected to take. Some statistics have improved from last season, with the Eagles playing to nil in 25% of their games, for example. With 22 own goals, however, there is still some catching up to do.
Spectacle does not happen too often at Crystal Palace, the desire is to stand relatively well and not let too much hustle and bustle arise in a game. Therefore, before the Crystal Palace vs Southampton match, our prediction is also that less than 2.5 goals will be scored overall.
Predicted line-up of Crystal Palace:
Guaita – Ward, Tomkins, Guehi, Mitchell – Riedewald, Kouyate, Gallagher, Ayew, Zaha – Edouard
Last matches played by Crystal Palace:
Premier League
12/12 2021 – Crystal Palace 3 – 1 Everton
12/05 2021 – Manchester United 1 – 0 Crystal Palace
11/30 2021 – Leeds 1 – 0 Crystal Palace
11/27 2021 – Crystal Palace 1 – 2 Aston Villa
11/20 2021 – Burnley 3 – 3 Crystal Palace
Southampton – Statistics & current form
If there is one factor that should be improved at Southampton FC under Ralph Hasenhüttl, it is consistency. There are always good phases in the season, but also worse ones. Especially when a negative streak sets in just before the stressful period around the holidays, this poses a significant problem.
And that is exactly what happened. The Saints have failed to win five games in a row in the league. Most recently, there was a 3-0 defeat at the Emirates to Arsenal in a game in which the Gunners did not excel at all. This shows where Southampton are at the moment – in a very difficult situation.
In the league, the Saints, who have lost five of their eight away games, have slipped to 16th place in recent weeks. Not a good result, even though they are still five points clear of 18th place. But after Crystal Palace, they have no easy tasks ahead of them with Brentford, West Ham and Tottenham.
Southampton must improve
The visitors must improve in many facets. Recently, however, the main problem has been the defence. Twelve goals conceded in five games are too few, and the Saints themselves only scored four goals during this period. The offensive, actually equipped with very good and, above all, fast players, is idle. It lacks accuracy.
The poor away record is not unique to this season. Southampton lost 15 of their last 19 games away from home. That’s one reason why, ahead of the Crystal Palace vs Southampton game, our Value Tip focuses on a home win.
Predicted line-up of Southampton:
Caballero – Livramento, Stephens, Bednarek, Walker-Peters – Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Elyounoussi – Long, Armstrong
Last matches played by Southampton:
Premier League
12/11 2021 – Arsenal London 3 – 0 Southampton
12/04 2021 – Southampton 1 – 1 Brighton
12/01 2021 – Southampton 2 – 2 Leicester
11/27 2021 – Liverpool FC 4 – 0 Southampton
11/20 2021 – Norwich 2 – 1 Southampton
Crystal Palace – Southampton Direct comparison / H2H record
79 times both teams have faced each other in a direct duel. With 36 wins, Southampton have an advantage on their own side, 28 games went to Crystal Palace. There have been no winners in 15 matches, and Southampton have gone four of their last five games without defeat.
Crystal Palace – Southampton betting tips
The pressure is more on the visitors from Southampton FC in this match. Likewise, Crystal Palace will want to prevent the Saints from drawing level on points. However, the away record of Hasenhüttl’s team is devastating. In recent months, there have been almost only defeats away from home.
So the hosts are the favourites. Offensively, neither side has the big weapons up their sleeves at the moment, which is why our tip before the match between Crystal Palace and Southampton is that less than 2.5 goals will be scored in this encounter.
