Palace face Bournemouth this weekendplaceholder image
Palace face Bournemouth this weekend | Getty Images
A look at how the pundits are predicting Crystal Palace’s tough-looking clash with Bournemouth.
Both of these teams are highly looked upon, both possessing managers who have attracted plenty of attention for their efforts, and the table reflects how far both team have come in the last couple of years.
Bournemouth are up in fourth and Crystal Palace are sixth with just two points between them, with each team having lost just once so far. Palace will come into this one hungry to get back to winning ways after losing their last game before the international break, conceding late against Everton.
Here we take a look at how the pundits are predicting this game.
Paul Merson
Merson wrote in his SportsKeeda predictions: “This is a massive game for Crystal Palace. They were unbeaten in 19 games and I don't know how they went and lost to Everton after that! Palace missed chance after chance in that game. Now they have to face Bournemouth, a very difficult game followed by Arsenal away and Liverpool in the EFL Cup. Before you know, Palace could may well end up being on a run of four or five games without a win.
“Good teams always bounce back and Palace need to show that this weekend. If you look at the teams that can break into the top six at the moment, it's these two sides. So I expect this game to be an entertaining one. Bournemouth are obviously flying at the moment and could even go top of the table before Arsenal play Fulham, if they win here.
“I've always liked Antoine Semenyo. I remember seeing him at Bristol City many years ago and I thought, 'he'll become really good'. Credit to him, he has carried that on very well. No disrespect to Bournemouth, but I'm shocked to still see him there! I cannot believe no club tried to sign him in the summer, he's a major threat no matter who he plays against. Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-2 Bournemouth.”
Chris Sutton
Sutton wrote for BBC Sport: “What an absolute nightmare of a game this is to predict. Two brilliantly coached teams, who are so well organised and in great form, and are capable of getting a result against anyone, home or away.
“I could make a case for both of them to win this, so the easy way out would be to opt for a draw - but I can't go for another one of those, despite both meetings between the two sides finishing 0-0 last season.
“Instead, I am going for someone to nick it. But who? I might as well toss a coin here... but I am going to go with Antoine Semenyo to win it for Bournemouth, although you can guarantee that Palace will score in the first five minutes now. Prediction: 0-1”
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