Crystal Palace vs Southampton prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2024-12-28 15:00.
[p]Despite sitting perilously close to the drop zone over the festive period, Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner remains positive about his side after posting a run of just one defeat across their last seven league games (W2, D4). Bookended by a goalless draw against Bournemouth on Boxing Day, Palace will expect to take the three points to end 2024 as they welcome bottom-of-the-table Southampton. [/p]
[p]Often finishing the year on a high, the Eagles haven’t lost a year-ending Premier League game since 2018 (W3, D2), with all three victories coming across the last three years and by multi-goal margins. Glasner’s men must end a four-game winless home league run in order to continue that trend (D2, L2), although all sides that the Eagles faced during that run sit within the top half. [/p]
[p]Nine points adrift of safety ahead of the round, Southampton’s hopes of becoming just the fifth side to avoid the drop after sitting bottom over Christmas still seem rather fanciful after boss Ivan Jurić fell to a 1-0 defeat in his first game at the helm. The Croatian remained positive about the Saints’ survival chances in the wake of that defeat against West Ham, largely because he felt his side were “better” on the day.[/p]
[p]Closing the yawning gap to safety away from home seems like a big ask despite the apparent positivity in the dressing room, as you’d have to look back to February 2023 to find Southampton’s last Premier League away win (D4, L12). Failing to score in four of their last five league trips, Southampton will at least hope to improve on that return here at a ground they’ve scored at in five of the last seven away H2Hs (W4, D1, L2). [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta has hit the match opener with his last three goals, and another one here would secure his longest run of consecutive openers since 2017/18. For Southamton, 6 foot 7 inch Paul Onuachu made his second league start of the season during Jurić’s debut, and the towering Nigerian netted the opener in his last four scoring appearances. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Southampton failed to win their last four year-ending Premier League games, which were all coincidentally against London sides (D3, L1). [/p]
[p][i]Written by Matthew Billon[/i][/p]