Verdict: Crystal Palace win
Best Odds: 11/10
Bookmaker: Bet365
Looking to make it two wins on the bounce in midweek, Crystal Palace will host a struggling Bournemouth at Selhurst Park on Tuesday night.
Crystal Palace
Starting with the hosts, while Crystal Palace may have entered December with an unenviable run of fixtures that saw them face off against the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Leicester, the Eagles made a much-needed return to winning ways last weekend. Putting in a very eye-catching display and picking up a 2-0 win away at a resurging Burnley on Saturday afternoon, Roy Hodgson’s side now have their sights firmly set on mounting a top half charge in midweek. If the Eagles are to land back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since the end of September, then the one-time England boss will be calling for Wilfried Zaha to lead their charge. Once again finding the net away at Turf Moor last time out, the Ivory Coast international has now found the net in back-to-back top-flight appearances for the first time since February. Knowing that three points on Wednesday could see them climb as high as fifth with a little bit of luck, Palace should also be boosted by their most recent meeting against Tuesday’s guests. When the two sides met at Selhurst Park back in May, the Eagles landed a 5-3 win in South London.
Team News
Crystal Palace will be without central defenders Gary Cahill and Scott Dann. Cahill is still nursing a knee injury, and Dann is sidelined after suffering a blow to his ankle at Burnley.
Palace are already without the injured Joel Ward for the remainder of 2019.
Bournemouth
As for the visitors, while Bournemouth may have snatched two goals away at Tottenham over the weekend, the Cherries could only slump to a 3-2 defeat and Eddie Howe’s side find themselves enduring an extended rut. Losing their last three Premier League matches on the bounce since their 1-0 victory over Manchester United last month, they have begun free-falling down the standings and have now recorded just a single victory across any competition since the 20th of September, a nine-match run. Along with showing some glaring issues at the back and conceding at least a pair of strikes on their losing run, the one-time Burnley boss will be hugely concerned by his side’s form away from the Vitality. Failing to win any of their last five matches on the road and losing four of those contests, including a 2-0 defeat away at League One outfit Burton Albion, they have recorded just four away Premier League victories in 2019. If the Cherries are to pull off what would be an upset in midweek, then Howe will be calling on Harry Wilson to lead their charge. Bagging a brace against Spurs over the weekend, the Wales international has three in his last three top-flight outings.
Team News
Bournemouth are boosted by the return of Simon Francis and Philip Billing, who were both suspended on Saturday.
Joshua King, Andrew Surman and Lloyd Kelly are all close to returning but are not expected to feature.
Key Factors to Consider
- When the two sides met back in May, Crystal Palace picked up a 5-3 win at Selhurst Park.
- Wilfried Zaha has scored in back-to-back matches for the first time since February.
- Bournemouth have lost four of their last five matches on the road.
- The Cherries have also recorded just four away Premier League victories in 2019.
- Harry Wilson has three Premier League goals in his last three top-flight appearances.
Conclusion
Making a return to winning ways last weekend with a thumping performance at Turf Moor, there is no doubt that Palace will be confident of landing back-to-back victories on Tuesday. With Bournemouth so publically struggling with their form outside of the South Coast and losing four of their last five matches on the road, we’re backing a home victory for Roy Hodgson’s side in midweek.
Verdict: Crystal Palace win
Best Odds: 11/10
Bookmaker: Bet365
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