Burnley vs Crystal Palace prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2023-11-03 15:00.
While Burnley boss Vincent Kompany again deflected the heat away from his players and onto VAR after their latest loss to Bournemouth (2-1), eight defeats from their opening ten league games (W1, D1) suggests he needs to look a little closer to home. That defeat on the south coast was the third such instance already this season that Burnley have lost a Premier League (PL) game after scoring first, the joint-most in the division.
That goes some way to explaining why the Clarets find themselves marooned in the relegation zone and at growing risk of becoming cut adrift from the sides above them. Pressure is increasing on Kompany to turn things around, with sections of the fan base beginning to turn on him, perhaps making the visit of a Crystal Palace side who Burnley are unbeaten in five games against (W3, D2) a timely one.
Palace won’t be making the journey north with any sentiment for the hosts’ struggles, as they seek points themselves after collecting just one win from their last six PL games (D2, L3). A 2-1 defeat to Tottenham bookends that run, and with Roy Hodgson’s side not being in midweek cup action, they’ve been afforded extra time to prepare for a first trip to Turf Moor in almost two years.
Despite sitting comfortably in mid-table, Hodgson has irked some Palace supporters after comments he made about the lack of impact his young substitutions made in that Spurs defeat. Perhaps that’s a sign of a man under pressure to turn results around, but with Hodgson winning none of his last five managerial H2Hs against the Clarets (D1, L4), his 501st game in charge of an English club in all competitions may not be a fruitful one.
Key battle: Having missed out at Bournemouth through illness, Burnley welcome top-scorer Lyle Foster back as he looks to build on three goal involvements in his last three home league outings (G2, A1). Marc Guéhi’s primary role will be to shackle him, but he may have half an eye on a goal of his own as he netted at Turf Moor when Palace last visited in a 3-3 draw.
Hot stat: No PL side has scored fewer than Palace’s one first half league goal this season.