Crystal Palace vs Southampton Preview

• Palace to win
• Mateta to score

Crystal Palace host Southampton in their final Premier League fixture of 2024, with both teams looking to turn their seasons around.

While Palace aim to pull away from the relegation battle, Southampton face an uphill task to avoid being cut adrift at the bottom of the table.

Crystal Palace: Eyeing a Strong Finish

Despite sitting just above the relegation zone, Palace have shown resilience under Oliver Glasner, suffering only one defeat in their last seven league games (W2, D4).

Their goalless Boxing Day draw with Bournemouth may have been underwhelming, but it extended a positive run that Glasner hopes will inspire confidence heading into this must-win encounter.

Palace’s recent form at Selhurst Park is a concern, with a four-game winless home streak in the league (D2, L2). However, it’s worth noting that these matches were against top-half opposition.

Ending the year on a high has been a habit for Palace, as they haven’t lost their final Premier League game of the year since 2018 (W3, D2), with their last three year-ending victories coming by multi-goal margins.

Key Player: Jean-Philippe Mateta

Mateta’s knack for opening the scoring could be vital, with his last three goals all being match openers. Another such strike here would mark his longest streak of consecutive openers since 2017/18.

Southampton: Desperation Mode

Southampton’s Premier League struggles continued under new manager Ivan Jurić, with a 1-0 loss to West Ham in his debut leaving the Saints nine points adrift of safety.

Despite the result, Jurić remained optimistic, praising his team’s performance as “better” and hinting at potential improvements in the coming weeks.

Closing the gap away from home looks like a monumental challenge for the Saints, who haven’t won an away league game since February 2023 (D4, L12).

Adding to their woes, they’ve failed to score in four of their last five league trips. However, Selhurst Park has been a decent hunting ground for Southampton, as they’ve scored in five of their last seven away H2Hs (W4, D1, L2).

Key Player: Paul Onuachu

The towering Nigerian forward offers a significant aerial threat and opened the scoring in his last four matches where he found the net. His presence could be a key weapon against Palace’s defence.

Tactical Battle

• Palace’s Approach:
   Palace will look to dominate possession and exploit Southampton’s defensive vulnerabilities, with Mateta leading the line. Glasner will want his side to press high and control the tempo, while Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise could be instrumental in creating chances.
• Southampton’s Approach:
  Jurić may adopt a counter-attacking setup, relying on Onuachu’s physicality and the creativity of James Ward-Prowse from set-pieces. Southampton must tighten up defensively to avoid early setbacks that have plagued them this season.

What’s at Stake?

• Crystal Palace: A win would help Palace move further away from the relegation zone and build momentum heading into 2025.
• Southampton: Victory is essential to keep their slim survival hopes alive and boost morale under their new manager.

Head-to-Head Insights

• Palace are unbeaten in their final Premier League game of the year since 2018 (W3, D2).
• Southampton haven’t won an away league game since February 2023 (D4, L12).
• Jean-Philippe Mateta has scored the opener in his last three goals for Palace.
• Paul Onuachu scored the opener in his last four matches where he found the net.

Prediction

Palace’s home advantage, coupled with their tendency to perform well in year-ending fixtures, makes them favourites against a struggling Southampton side.

While the Saints may show signs of improvement under Jurić, their poor away record and lack of attacking firepower are likely to hinder them.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-0 Southampton

This encounter offers a mix of desperation and determination as Palace aim to pull clear of the drop zone and Southampton fight to salvage their season. Can the Eagles soar to a year-ending win, or will the Saints defy the odds at Selhurst Park? Fans are in for a compelling contest.

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Crystal Palace v Southampton, 2024/25 | Premier League