Crystal Palace and Leicester City, who are both still chasing their first Premier League win of the 2024–25
season, battle it out at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon. After three games this season, the two struggling teams have only managed one point apiece, though they did manage to secure an EFL Cup victory in the process.
Despite Michael Olise’s inability to resist Bayern Munich’s allure, Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi remaining in their current positions, Jean-Philippe Mateta bringing his goal-scoring prowess to the Olympics, and Adam Wharton displaying his skills in midfield would seem to be the formula for Crystal Palace’s Premier League success.
Since the beginning of the 2024–25 season, though, the Eagles had completely lost their way. They were doomed to lose their first two games against Brentford and West Ham United before defeating Norwich City 4-0 in the EFL Cup.
Oliver Glasner’s team managed to steal a point at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago, where they faced Chelsea, who had just defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 6-1, with Eberechi Eze canceling out Nicolas Jackson’s opening goal in a 1-1 draw. Oliver Glasner’s team was clearly on a high after the crushing of the Canaries.
As a result of earning their first point of the season, Palace is currently in 16th place, just above the relegation zone, and the lackluster hosts should have been among the clubs that really benefited from the September international break.
The Selhurst Park supporters may be forgiven for surrendering their team to defeat if Leicester score first, though, since Palace are yet to win a Premier League game under Glasner in which they have gone behind, losing five and drawing two of the seven such matches
Trevoh Chalobah, Eddie Nketiah, Matt Turner, and Maxence Lacroix are four possible debutants for Palace this weekend. The defensive tandem may both feel positive about starting here. Palace is one of the busier teams on transfer deadline day.
Another recent hire In addition to Rob Holding being kicked off the first team due to an alleged falling out with Glasner, who also disclosed two weekends ago that Wharton has been experiencing some niggles since the Euros, Chadi Riad is out with a knee ailment.
Though Matheus Franca is still healing from a broken rib, the midfield player should still be cleared to start after being left out of England’s Under-21 team this month.
In the summer transfer season, Jordan Ayew and Odsonne Edouard signed contracts to become attackers for Leicester and Crystal Palace, respectively. Ayew will join the Foxes permanently, while Edouard will join on loan and will not be able to play for his parent club right away.
With goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk and midfielder Patson Daka out for several more months with ankle injuries, 37-year-old Jamie Vardy leads the Foxes’ attack as he looks to add on his six goals from previous Premier League matches with Palace.
Oliver Skipp, Wilfred Ndidi, and Harry Winks all began the match in a defense-heavy midfield against Villa, but Buonanotte, who is more focused on attacking, ought to now replace one of them—likely the latte.
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Chalobah, Guehi, Lacroix; Munoz, Wharton, Doucoure, Mitchell; Eze, Kamada; Mateta
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Hermansen; Justin, Vestergaard, Faes, Kristiansen; Ndidi, Winks; Fatawu, Buonanotte, Ayew; Vardy
