Leicester make their second visit to London of the new season as they take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
After securing a well-earned point against Tottenham on the opening Monday Night Football of the 2024/25 campaign, Leicester, of whom there are few expectations for this term, suffered back-to-back defeats before the international break.
The Foxes were beaten 2-1 by Fulham at Craven Cottage before falling to the same scoreline against Aston Villa at the King Power. However, Steve Cooper would’ve taken several positives from his side’s most recent defeat at the hands of a fine Villa outfit.
The start to Oliver Glasner’s first full season at Palace hasn’t quite gone to plan, although the Eagles did notch their first point of 2024/25 away at Chelsea two weeks ago. Palace are still coming to terms with the loss of Michael Olise, and are bedding in several fresh faces.
Austrian coach Glasner will be confident of overseeing his first league victory of the new season this weekend.
Here is 90min’s guide to Crystal Palace vs Leicester in the Premier League.
Crystal Palace vs Leicester H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Crystal Palace |
Leicester |
|---|---|
|
Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace – 01/09/24 |
Leicester 1-2 Aston Villa – 31/08/24 |
|
Crystal Palace 4-0 Norwich – 27/08/24 |
Leicester 4-0 Tranmere – 27/08/24 |
|
Crystal Palace 0-2 West Ham – 24/08/24 |
Fulham 2-1 Leicester – 24/08/24 |
|
Brentford 2-1 Crystal Palace – 18/08/24 |
Leicester 1-1 Tottenham – 19/08/24 |
|
Crystal Palace 1-1 Nantes – 11/08/24 |
Lens 3-0 Leicester – 10/08/24 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
N/A |
|
United States |
fuboTV, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, UNIVERSO NOW, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, USA Network, UNIVERSO |
|
Canada |
fuboTV |
Matheus Franca, who endured a quiet debut season in south London, is currently out of action with a broken rib. In his absence, summer arrival Daichi Kamada will work in creative tandem alongside Eberechi Eze behind Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Adam Wharton didn’t feature over the international break and is nursing a thigh injury which has rendered him a doubt for Saturday’s game. If the Englishman isn’t fit, Cheick Doucoure will likely partner Will Hughes in the middle of the park.
Palace are also without new centre-back Chadi Riad due to a knee injury, but Trevoh Chalobah and Maxence Lacroix could both come into Glasner’s defence.
Crystal Palace predicted lineup vs Leicester (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Doucoure, Hughes, Mitchell; Kamada, Eze; Mateta.
The visitors entered the new campaign with an array of fitness concerns, but Leicester have gotten healthier over the first month of the season.
Patson Daka is the only notable injury absentee for Leicester. The striker is still recovering from an ankle sustained towards the end of pre-season.
While Jordan Ayew is eligible to face his former club this weekend, loanee Odsonne Edouard cannot be named in Cooper’s matchday squad.
Leicester predicted lineup vs Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Okoli, Kristiansen; Winks, Ndidi; Fatawu, Buonanotte, Ayew; Vardy.
It’s been an inconspicuous start for both teams, although Palace did enter the break carrying some momentum after earning a point at Stamford Bridge.
We’ve got to expect Glasner’s Eagles to gradually feel their way into the new season having dazzled towards the end of 2023/24 with their new manager. They will come good, but it may take some time.
Nevertheless, they should get the job done here. While Ayew will be particularly ‘up for it’ against his former club, Leicester have huffed and puffed through three games but are yet to prove they’re capable of seriously competing in the top flight this season. They’d have no points on the board if Tottenham were only a hint more clinical on Matchday 1.
The Selhurst Park faithful will be expecting three points on Saturday, and Glasner’s team will deliver.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-0 Leicester
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