Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace have picked up just one point from six available to them, a haul that might at first appear very meagre, but the perspective changes radically if we take a look at the teams the Eagles have faced in the first two days of the season. The French coach would perhaps have put his signature, before his debut, to go out unbeaten on at least one occasion against Arsenal and Liverpool.
And so it was: after the peremptory defeat on the debut against the Gunners, who conquered Selhurst Park with a goal by Martinelli and an own goal by Guéhi, the Londoners were able to do the feat at Anfield Road against Jurgen Klopp’s battleship, stopped at 1-1. The English capital side approached the match very well and took advantage of the nervousness of Darwin Nunez, who was sent off for head-butting Andersen. The calendar for now grants a ‘respite’ to Crystal Palace.
They will have to take advantage of the challenge against another mid-table team like Aston Villa to collect more points, before the prohibitive away match against the reigning champions Manchester City. In between, then, remember that there is the first commitment in the League Cup against Oxford United. And if on the one hand the Eagles are chasing their first joy of the season, on the other hand the Villans already had it last Saturday in the challenge against Everton, beaten 2-1 at Villa Park. Steven Gerrard exulted in front of his former national team mate and league rival Frank Lampard, who has been on the Toffees’ bench since January. Coutinho and his team-mates thus redeemed the poor debut at home to Bournemouth.
Buendia of Aston Villa ©️LaPresse
The Prediction
Aston Villa redeemed themselves against Everton, but will find a Crystal Palace side motivated and on cloud nine after the Anfield feat. Vieira’s team, by the way, are always fearsome at home and seem to have an edge. We foresee a hard-fought match, with at least one goal on each side and in which the Eagles are likely to avoid defeat. A draw would not be a surprise.
Crystal Palace v Aston Villa likely line-ups
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-2-3-1): Guaita; Clyne, Anderson, Guéhi, Mitchell; Doucouré, Schlupp; Olise, Eze, Zaha; Edouard.
ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Martinez; Cash, Chambers, Mings, Digne; McGinn, Kamara, Ramsey; Buendia, Ings, Watkins.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
