Overview
Crystal Palace's form has been inconsistent recently, but not too bad. In their last 6 matches in all competitions, apart from 2 defeats to Arsenal (in the Premier League and Carabao Cup), Oliver Glasner's team have won against Ipswich and Brighton. They have also drawn against the more highly rated teams Man City and Bournemouth.
Overall, Palace is not a very strong team, but they have players who know how to shine at the right time. Ismaila Sarr has scored 3 goals in the last 4 matches, while Nketiah, Mateta and Munoz have also contributed important goals.
Notably, three of Mateta's four Premier League goals for Crystal Palace this season have come against newly promoted sides, so the Frenchman is expected to score against Southampton.
Southampton have had a poor start under new manager Ivan Juric, losing 1-0 to West Ham. Before round 19, the Saints were still bottom of the table with just 6 points, 9 points from safety.
The St Mary's side have the worst attack in the league (11 goals scored) and the second worst defence (37 goals conceded). They have also failed to score in their last four Premier League games.
In the last 3 Premier League matches, Crystal Palace won all 3 matches against Southampton, scoring 5 goals and conceding only 1. It is likely that the home team at Selhurst Park will continue to have joy in this match.
Human resources situation
Marc Guehi will miss out for Crystal Palace after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Bournemouth. Will Hughes remains a doubt for the match.
On the other side of the front line, like the match against West Ham, new head coach of The Saints, Juric, will not be able to have the services of Gavin Bazunu, Ross Stewart and Will Smallbone.
Expected lineup:
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Clyne, Lacroix, Chalobah, Munoz, Doucoure, Lerma, Mitchell, Eze, Nketiah, Mateta.
Southampton: Ramsdale, Wood, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Sugawara, Ugochukwu, Downes, Walker-Peters, Fernandes, Armstrong, Onuachu.
The match between Crystal Palace and Southampton takes place at 22:00 on December 29 (Vietnam time).
