[When West Ham travel to Selhurst Park on Monday evening](https://westhamblog.co.uk/west-hams-winning-formula-steps-to-victory-at-selhurst-park/) with their Premier League survival hanging by a thread, one player will carry more historical weight against the opposition than any other: Tomas Soucek.
The Czech midfielder has been quietly devastating against Crystal Palace throughout his time in East London. Four goals and two assists in ten Premier League appearances is a record unmatched by any other current Hammer in this fixture.
Crucially, Soucek’s goals have arrived at key moments. He netted twice in a 3-2 victory at Selhurst Park in January 2021, contributed a goal and an assist in a 4-3 defeat there during the 2022-23 campaign, and broke the deadlock in the 2-0 win at Palace in August 2024.
A player who consistently delivers against the same opponent over five years is not simply the beneficiary of coincidence. Rather, he thrives due to a tactical and psychological matchup that suits him perfectly.
Soucek’s attributes are precisely what unsettle Palace. His aerial dominance, late surges into the box, and knack for arriving at the far post have repeatedly exploited the Eagles’ defensive frailties.
Oliver Glasner’s side are no pushovers—they come into Monday’s clash having already beaten West Ham this season—but their record against Soucek specifically paints a different picture.
In January 2026, Jarrod Bowen became West Ham’s all-time record holder for Premier League goal involvements, surpassing Michail Antonio. Soucek, meanwhile, set a new benchmark as the Premier League’s highest-scoring Czech player in February 2026.
On Monday, however, it is Soucek’s formidable record against Palace that makes him the most dangerous threat on the pitch.