Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa Match Analysis and Prediction

5 years ago 967

Crystal Palace will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to eight matches now when they welcome Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa to Selhurst Park on Saturday evening with kickoff at 18:00.

Crystal Palace was tipped by many as a potential relegation candidates this season but the the Eagles are making great strides and have exceeded expectations under the former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira. Vieira’s side have made a strong and solid campaign as only Chelsea (one) and Liverpool (one) have lost fewer Premier League matches than Palace this season, with the club suffering just two defeats in their opening 12 matches. However, the capital club has been the draw specialists, sharing the spoils in seven encounters and claiming three victories in the run.

The Eagles currently occupy the 10^th spot in the league standings on 16 points, just five points behind the fifth-placed Arsenal and eight adrift off the top four. Patrick Vieira’s side have been good at home this season as they have gone unbeaten in their opening six home games and are also boasting a strong form as they are unbeaten in their last seven matches in the Premier League.

The capital Club are coming off a pulsating 3-3 draw at Turf Moore and prior to the draw Crystal recorded back-to-back 2-0 wins over Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers and will be looking to build on this strong run when Aston Villa come calling to their door this Saturday.

Meanwhile Aston Villa parted ways with Dean Smith after a run of five straight Premier League defeats and in his place former Liverpool captain and Rangers boss Steven Gerrard was appointed. Gerrard would have been desperate to get off to a perfect start as a manager in the Premier League against Burnley last weekend.

That proved to be the case for Gerrard and his new club as late goals from Ollie Watkins and Tyrone Mings secured a 2-0 victory over the Seagulls at Villa Park. The win saw the club bounce back from their dreadful run that saw them drop to the bottom half in the league standings. They currently sit in the 15^th spot on 13 points just four points adrift off the drop zone and top half.

Therefore, Steven Gerrard will be hoping that his will keep their new found momentum going at Selhurst Park on Saturday as he looks to climb further away from the danger zone and indeed it will be fascinating to see what the club can achieve this season under Gerrard now.

Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa head to head

Both sides have met in 19 encounters since 1994 with Aston Villa claiming seven wins while Crystal Palace have claimed six wins and there have been six draws.