Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace Preview

• Villa to win
• Over 1.5 goals

Aston Villa and Crystal Palace meet at Villa Park, both teams eager to turn around their fortunes in what has been a challenging Premier League season so far.

Villa will look to recover from a poor run of form under Unai Emery, while Palace hope to climb out of the relegation zone after a difficult start.

Aston Villa: Seeking to Reignite Early Season Form

After a promising start to the season, Aston Villa have struggled for consistency, managing just one win in their last six league outings (D3, L2).

Their recent dip includes a four-match losing streak across all competitions, a first for manager Unai Emery in his extensive managerial career.

This poor form has shaken Villa’s confidence, but they remain strong at home, having not lost any of their last 12 home Premier League encounters against Crystal Palace (W7, D4).

Breaking this negative streak will be Emery’s immediate focus, especially after a League Cup defeat to Palace (2-1) earlier this season. With Villa’s home crowd behind them and their solid record against the Eagles, they’ll aim to regain momentum.

Crystal Palace: Struggling for Goals and Points

Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace side find themselves in the bottom three, having won just one of their 11 league matches so far (D4, L6).

Scoring has been the Eagles’ biggest issue, with only eight goals this season—better than only Southampton’s tally. They’ve failed to score in five matches, including two of their last three league games, highlighting their attacking struggles.

Palace’s away record against Villa provides little encouragement, with just two goals scored across their last seven visits to Villa Park in the league. Glasner will need to find a way to spark his team’s attack if they’re to challenge Villa in this matchup.

Key Players to Watch

Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Rogers is full of confidence after making his England debut during the international break. All three of his league goals for Villa this season have come at home, with each strike occurring between the 40th and 50th minute, making him a key player in Villa’s quest for a much-needed victory.

Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)

Mateta has enjoyed great success against Aston Villa, scoring more Premier League goals against them (4) than any other team. Palace will hope he can deliver once again as they desperately search for goals and points.

Tactical Insights: Villa’s Control vs Palace’s Struggles

Aston Villa will likely look to dominate possession and capitalise on Palace’s lack of cutting edge in attack. With Rogers and Ollie Watkins leading the charge, Emery’s side will focus on creating chances early to unsettle Palace’s defence.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, must tighten up defensively and find a way to break Villa’s lines, potentially relying on Mateta’s clinical edge in front of goal. Glasner may set up to counterattack, knowing his team needs to be efficient with limited opportunities.

Final Thoughts

This match provides Aston Villa with an opportunity to snap their poor run and re-establish themselves as contenders for the top half. For Crystal Palace, it’s a chance to improve their position and regain confidence in a season that has yet to gain momentum.

Will Villa secure a much-needed victory, or can Palace defy the odds and leave Villa Park with a vital result?

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Aston Villa v Crystal Palace, 2024/25 | Premier League