Ivan Juric faces a formidable challenge in his quest to keep Southampton afloat in the Premier League, a task that would daunt even the most celebrated football managers given the team’s current standings.
There’s talk that Juric might receive additional resources in the form of quality players during the January transfer window. However, as it stands, Southampton find themselves isolated at the bottom of the table, suggesting perhaps their ascent to the top tier last season was premature.
Match Info
- Premier League Matchday 19 of 38
- Sunday 29th December 2024 20:00 EST / 15:00 GMT
- Selhurst Park
Despite a commendable performance against West Ham United, Southampton’s primary struggle has been their lack of precision in the final third. This is evident from their failure to net any goals in their recent four Premier League outings.
This scoring drought has inadvertently ramped up the pressure on the team’s defense, which has found it challenging to hold back adversaries at this competitive level. Given their defensive vulnerabilities, they are at risk against Crystal Palace, who are eyeing a crucial win to boost their standings.
On the other hand, Oliver Glasner’s squad has shown signs of resilience, shaking off a heavy 1-5 loss to Arsenal with a subsequent goalless draw at Bournemouth. Crystal Palace is poised to seize the opportunity to secure a narrow victory, banking on their slightly superior offensive capability. A single goal might just be sufficient for them in this match-up, reminiscent of their recent victory against Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
With both teams struggling to find the back of the net this season, the first goal of the match could very well dictate the outcome. Crystal Palace, with their edge in attacking quality, looks better positioned to clinch a low-scoring affair.
Crystal Palace
Following a disheartening defeat at home to Arsenal, Crystal Palace managed to exhibit commendable resilience with a goalless draw against Bournemouth on Boxing Day. With their sights set on distancing themselves from the relegation fray, Crystal Palace are looking to secure a crucial victory in their upcoming match at Selhurst Park this Sunday.
Currently positioned 16th in the Premier League, the Eagles find themselves still entangled in a relegation tussle. Recent weeks, however, have brought a semblance of stability to the team, highlighting the importance of bolstering their home record of 1-4-4. Despite scoring a mere 7 goals at home throughout the season, Palace’s recent performances suggest a growing consistency.
Although Crystal Palace has secured only one win in their last five outings across all competitions, they have proven difficult to defeat, with just two losses in their last eight—both against Arsenal in different contests. The team has struggled to clinch a win in their last four Premier League appearances at Selhurst Park, and they are eager to amend this by overcoming the aftermath of a 1-5 thrashing by Arsenal.
In terms of team dynamics, Crystal Palace will be without Marc Guehi, who is serving a one-game suspension, and Will Hughes, whose participation remains uncertain due to injury concerns.
Southampton
Under the new management of Ivan Juric, Southampton put in a valiant effort in their first match, yet it became clear that they face a monumental challenge in securing their Premier League status. In their recent home defeat to West Ham United, the Saints created opportunities but lacked the necessary composure in the final third and continued to make defensive errors that have been routinely exploited by their rivals.
Post-Christmas, Southampton are left to reflect on another challenging set of results, finding themselves anchored to the bottom of the table, now a daunting nine points adrift of safety. With the season progressing, the threat of relegation looms larger, and the Saints, bearing an away record of 0 wins, 2 draws, and 7 losses, travel to London with little room for optimism.
The team’s winless streak has extended to nine matches across all competitions, including seven losses. Following their defeat to West Ham United, Southampton have also failed to score in four consecutive Premier League games. However, having secured draws in two of their last three away league matches, there might be a glimmer of hope as they prepare for their final match of 2024 in South London.
On the personnel front, Maxwel Cornet will return to the lineup after being ineligible to face his parent club, West Ham. However, Jack Stephens and William Smallbone are expected to remain sidelined due to injuries.
America Bet Match Winner Prediction
Given the challenges outlined for Southampton, including their struggle to score and their precarious position at the bottom of the Premier League table, it seems unlikely they will turn things around in this upcoming match, especially away from home with their poor away record. On the other hand, Crystal Palace, despite their inconsistencies, have shown some resilience and have been tough to beat in recent matches. With the advantage of playing at Selhurst Park and a slightly better form, Crystal Palace would be the more likely team to emerge as the winner in this fixture.
America Bet Score Prediction
Crystal Palace 1 – 0 Southampton
Considering both teams’ recent forms and challenges, particularly Southampton’s difficulty in scoring goals, a low-scoring game seems probable. Crystal Palace might capitalize on their home advantage and a slightly more stable defensive performance. Predicting a tight game, a reasonable scoreline might be a 1-0 victory for Crystal Palace.
America Bet Betting Tips
- Crystal Palace to win.
- Under 2.5 goals in the match.
- Both teams not to score (BTTS – No).
- Eberechi Eze to score anytime.
- Crystal Palace to win 1-0 (correct score).
- Crystal Palace to win with a clean sheet.
- Southampton under 0.5 goals (Southampton not to score).
- Crystal Palace to score the first goal.
