The 2024/25 Premier League season resumes this weekend with Gameweek 33. The latest round of fixtures kicks off on Saturday, with the action on the day starting with four simultaneous games, including Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace seemed like the dark horses in the race for European qualification, having been one of the most in-form teams in the Premier League for several months. However, that momentum has come to a crashing halt in the last seven days, with the South London outfit suffering two sizeable defeats in as many games. While all is not lost yet, the Eagles are five points behind eighth-placed Bournemouth.
As for Bournemouth, the Cherries were once in the top five and seemed one of the contenders to secure UEFA Champions League qualification. However, a run of one win in eight games dropped Andoni Iraola’s men from fifth to tenth before a 1-0 victory over Fulham last weekend lifted them to eighth in the standings. That result has left the away side seven points behind fifth-placed Manchester City.
The reverse fixture was an evenly-contested affair that ended in a goalless stalemate between Crystal Palace and Bournemouth. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Oliver Glasner has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Crystal Palace manager will be without two first-team players vs Bournemouth on Saturday, with Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure recovering from knee injuries.
Dean Henderson will take his spot between the sticks, with Crystal Palace lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Bournemouth on Saturday. The central defensive unit should feature Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, and Marc Guehi.
As for the midfield unit, Will Hughes should line up alongside Adam Wharton in the middle of the park, with Jefferson Lerma being an option on the bench. Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell are automatic picks as the two wing-backs.
Jean-Philippe Mateta will lead the line for Crystal Palace against Bournemouth, with Eberechi Eze and Ibrahima Sarr providing creative support in the final third. So, Daichi Kamada and Romain Esse will be backup options on the bench,
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell; Eze, Sarr; Mateta
Unlike his counterpart in the Crystal Palace dugout, Andoni Iraola has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of the trip to Selhurst Park. The Bournemouth manager will be without three first-team players on Saturday.
Justin Kluivert should be fit and available after recovering from his recent fitness issues. The Dutch playmaker’s return means Ryan Christie (groin), Luis Sinisterra (hamstring), and Enes Unal (knee) are the only players on the sidelines.
Kepa Arrizabalaga is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Bournemouth lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Crystal Palace on Saturday. The backline should feature Adam Smith, Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, and Milos Kerkez.
As for the midfield unit, Tyler Adams should pair up with Lewis Cook in the double pivot. The returning Justin Kluivert will reprise the no. 10 role, with Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo being the two wide attackers. Finally, Evanilson will spearhead the Bournemouth attack against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Adams, Cook; Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara; Evanilson
While Evanilson, Antoine Semenyo, and Eberechi Eze were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Jean-Philippe Mateta as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League game between Crystal Palace and Bournemouth at Selhurst Park.
The French striker has scored 18 goals in 22 Premier League home games under Oliver Glasner, the most by a Crystal Palace player under one manager. However, he has not been at his best since returning from a gruesome head injury. So, he will be eager to rediscover his best touch and inspire Crystal Palace to return to winning ways.
Saturday’s match features two teams eager to clinch three points to keep hopes of European qualification alive. However, while Crystal Palace’s twin defeats in the past week threaten to derail a promising campaign, Bournemouth’s record in London is concerning.
The Cherries’ last four fixtures in the capital have finished 2-2, with those draws coming at Fulham, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United. Considering all factors, another stalemate is on the cards, and The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 draw for Saturday’s Premier League clash at Selhurst Park.
