Premier League: Eagles Set to Swoop on the Foxes

Crystal Palace vs Leicester City

16^th hosts 15^th at Selhurst Park on Saturday when Premier League: Crystal Palace vs Leicester is the big draw down in South London.

Both teams are in need of a lift after a difficult start to the campaign, each earning just a single point from three games, but neither have been on the end of a thumping, competitive in all three games so far. Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace went into the international break on the back of an impressive 1-1 draw away to Chelsea, while the Foxes lost a Midlands derby 1-2 at home to Aston Villa.

Having led Nottingham Forest to the Premier League for the first time this century and then keeping them in the top flight, Steve Cooper was potted by owner Evangelos Marinakis; and he’s now rocked up at the Kingpower Stadium as Leicester City boss where he has a big challenge to steer another team to survival. The Eagles are more established in the top flight than the newly promoted Foxes and the loud and proud home fans will expect to roar their team on to victory.  

 

Talking Points

A good window for Palace

With the risk of losing centre back Marc Guehi a constant threat during the transfer window the Eagles eventually managed to strengthen at the back. Not only did they keep hold of the England man, Glasner welcomed Maxence Lacroix from Bundesliga Wolfsburg, on a five year deal and at a fee of £18m. Lacroix is a like for like replacement for the departed Joachim Anderson and will likely link up with Guehi on Saturday. 

And, after seeing attacking midfielder Michael Olise move to FC Bayern in a £50m move the club is delighted to keep hold of their other hot creative player Eberechi Eze. The 26 year old has recently been called up by England and has impressed for the Three Lions, and his wing wizardry is well known, and feared by defenders in the Premier League. Eze scored the leveller in the Eagles’ draw with Chelsea and he’ll be a key player for Glasner’s team, though the big clubs may well be circling in January.

For Palace to have two current England internationals is quite a coup and with the quality of team-mates including Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada this is a team which should be targeting a mid-table finish.       

 

Cooper unhappy with refereeing standards

One sign of a manager under pressure is the temptation to focus on things that go wrong which are outside your control. And, after losing to Aston Villa, Cooper focussed on a contentious refereeing decision. Summer recruit Oliver Skipp fouled Ollie Watkins for the free-kick which led to Villa’s opening goal but the Foxes’ coach was far from convinced it was a foul. “It should have never been a free-kick in the first place,” said Cooper, “and that changed the complexion of the game. I think everyone in the stadium would have got booked if the referee could’ve got round to it. I’ve just accepted the refereeing is where it is.”

I’m not sure he has accepted it, but Cooper now needs to focus on the next task in hand. A 4-0 win over Tranmere Rovers in the Carabao Cup gave Foxes fans something to cheer but that has been the only success, apart from a rather lucky draw with Tottenham Hotspur, Jamie Vardy bagging a second half equaliser.

Cooper has had some success in the transfer market though. The Foxes signed Genk midfielder Bilal El Khannouss just before the transfer window closed, in a £20m deal, and he will challenge Facudo Buonanotte, who scored Leicester’s goal against Aston Villa, for a spot. 

 

History

These two teams have had some superb tussles over the years and the head to head Crystal Palace vs Leicester City results tell us how well matched they have been. The Foxes are ahead by 17 wins to 16, but they have not won at Selhurst Park in their last three visits, losing 2-1 when they met towards the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

The Eagles are in better form with two wins, two draws and two defeats from their last six outings, while the Foxes have won one, drawn one and lost four.   

 

Betting Tip

At SBOTOP odds of 1.57 to win the Eagles are strong favourites to pick up a priceless three points, while the Foxes can spring a surprise at a price of 4.67 or pick up a point at odds of 3.62.

Few neutrals backed Palace on their trip to Stamford Bridge but they showed up well, and I think they will have too much quality for Leicester.   

   

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