Southampton are four games unbeaten against Crystal Palace in the Premier League. On Saturday, the Saints will head to Selhurst Park in search of their fifth game without a loss versus the Eagles.
Ralph Hassenhuttl’s team ended the 2019-20 season in great form. Southampton were seven games unbeaten to finish out the campaign and will fancy their chances of picking up all three points away at Selhurst Park.
While Southampton ended the term on a high note, Crystal Palace exhibited relegation form. Roy Hodgson’s team were winless in their final eight games in the Premier League. Seven of those games finished in losses.
It is a slight surprise that Hodgson was retained for this season after Crystal Palace endured an eight-game winless run. If the Eagles get off to a slow start, the long-time manager could be out the door.
Southampton have won on their last three trips to Selhurst Park. They have been brilliant against Crystal Palace outscoring them 5-0 combined in three trips to London.
Last season, the Saints scored on either side of halftime at Selhurst Park courtesy of goals from Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong.
Hassehuttl has no reported injuries heading into the campaign. The manager overhauled the squad in the offseason. Although just two players were brought in on permanent deals – Kyle Walker-Peters and Mohammed Salisu – most of the turnover came with players leaving.
The manager has focused on improving Southampton’s defence, which gave up 60 goals in 2019-20. The club’s expected goals allowed number was 56.59. If the defence improves, the attack could power Southampton into the top half of the table.
Plenty of questions will surround Danny Ings and whether he can have another 20-goal-plus season. Ings was reborn under Hassehuttl last season scoring 22 times. He shattered his expected goals number of 15.66 and averaged 0.50 expected goals per 90 minutes.
Crystal Palace’s biggest issue last season was scoring. They tallied just 31 goals, which was the second-fewest goals in the Premier League.
Hodgson has seven players on the team’s injury list. James Tomkins, Gary Cahill, Patrick van Aanholt, Nathan Ferguson, Christian Benteke, and Mamadou Sakho are all listed as hurt and doubts for the game.
Crystal Palace offseason signing Eberechi Eze could win his fitness race in time for the game. The former Queens Park Rangers player has been upgraded to possibly playing.
💥 The Bats is back.#CPFC | https://t.co/utMcYSDkhb pic.twitter.com/WRI5LvxZTi— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) September 10, 2020
💥 The Bats is back.#CPFC | https://t.co/utMcYSDkhb pic.twitter.com/WRI5LvxZTi
Southampton are unbeaten in four straight games against Crystal Palace. They have won on their last three trips to Selhurst Park and Saturday should see the Saints win once more. Expect under 2.5 goals as Southampton win to nil for a fourth straight time versus Crystal Palace.