Southampton vs Crystal Palace prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2023-04-14 14:00.
With just eight games remaining in the Premier League (PL) season and four points adrift of safety, itâs fair to say Southampton have hit the âmust winâ stage. Saintsâ boss RubĂ©n SellĂ©s insisted he doesnât waste his time watching the league table after their 4-1 defeat to Manchester City last weekend, but thereâs no doubting his side need to pick points up quickly before they get cut even further adrift.
That starts with this visit of Crystal Palace, yet with Southampton holding just one win from their last 12 PL home games (D3, L8), itâs hard to see where they can draw much confidence from. Perhaps their 2-1 FA Cup H2H victory from earlier in the season can boost belief, but considering both sides are now headed by different managers since that January clash, this maybe serves as an opportune time for Southampton to claim a first PL home H2H clean sheet since 2015.
After netting five against Leeds last weekend in a thumping 5-1 victory, keeping Crystal Palace quiet isnât the task it once was. The Eagles have been rejuvenated since the re-appointment of Roy Hodgson, winning both their games to move six points clear of the drop, but the well-travelled Palace boss will be acutely aware that 33 points wonât be enough to stay up so his side must keep their momentum going.
Picking up a second successive away win may prove problematic, as the last time Palace won back-to-back PL games on their travels was in March 2022. Encouragingly though, Hodgson did secure a victory on this very ground whilst in charge of Watford last season (2-1), but with an indifferent record at St Maryâs from his previous Palace stint (W1, D2, L1), history doesnât offer much of an insight into how this game could unfold.
Players to watch: Southampton will be looking to draw inspiration from anywhere, and they may be able to take heart from the fact Theo Walcott is unbeaten in four career home appearances against Crystal Palace (W3, D1). Eberechi Eze has played a key role in Palaceâs resurgence, and his last three club goals have all come away from home after the half-hour mark.
Hot stat: Palace have lost 20 of their 35 games officiated by referee Michael Oliver, only West Ham (21) have lost more matches with Oliver in charge.