Match Pack: Crystal Palace vs Saints

THE BATTLE

Crystal Palace vs Saints
Premier League
Selhurst Park
Sunday 29 December at 15:00 GMT

The civil servants

Referee: Michael Salisbury
Assistants: Scott Ledger, Derek Eaton
Fourth Referee: Darren Bond
WAS: Graham Scott
Assistant VAR: Akil Howson

WHAT’S AT PLAY?

It is a first away game as Saints boss for Ivan Jurić, who will look to turn the positives from Boxing Day’s defeat to West Ham into points in the second half of the season.

His side are nine points adrift of safety, but a string of results can quickly change things in the Premier League, especially if you take those points away from fellow strugglers Crystal Palace.

Palace are in 16th place with 17 points, but have seen an upturn in form over the last month or so, losing just one of their last seven.

WHICH KIT WILL THE SAINTS WEAR?

Saints will be wearing their yellow and navy away strips for the trip to South London.

TEAM NEW

With Jack Stephens returning from suspension and the like, Will Smallbone is closing in on full fitness after an injury manager Jurić has said he will look to “make some changes” ahead of Sunday’s trip to the capital.

“To play at high intensity we need to be fit,” said the manager. “We saw (against West Ham) some changes with Lesley (Ugochukwu) and Paul (Onuachu) and they did very well.”

THE LEADERS

Oliver Glasner: “I think what we can do better: especially when we win the ball, sometimes we lose it too easily. First or second pass, the ball is gone again.

“But the team works so hard and invests so much and (we want to) just make it a little bit easier for them on the field, giving us more moments, more momentum, a little bit more composure. That’s what we’re working on, and that will be important against Southampton.”

Ivan Juric: “I have seen them a lot because the coach of Crystal Palace is one of the coaches I like to watch because he plays 3-4-3. I think they have very good strikers, fast and they play well .

“But I’m very confident that we can do a good game. From watching the Fulham game and today, I think our team can compete. There are lots of things to improve, lots of details we can do better, but in these two games have seen that my team can compete; we are not too far away from other teams.”

TOP SCORERS

Crystal Palace

Goal:
Jean-Philippe Mateta 7
Sarr, Eze 4
Guéhi, Muñoz, Nketiah, Chalohbah 2

Assist:
Mitchell, Eze 3
Sarr, Mateta, Hughes, Muñoz, Kamada 2
Six players 1

Southampton

Goal:
Cameron Archer 5
Armstrong, Harwood-Bellis 3
Aribo, Fernandes, Bree 2

Assist:
Mateus Fernandes 3
Dibling, Walker-Peters, Lallana, Taylor 2
Armstrong, Sugawara, Kamaldeen 1

ONE TO SEE

Ismaïla Sarr: With three goals in his last three games, the 26-year-old is certainly finding his form this festive period.

The attacking midfielder will be hoping to continue those numbers into the new year as Oliver Glasner’s side look to continue their run of form.

Paul Onuachu: The striker returned to the starting line-up for Jurić’s first game and became the focal point of the new attacking style.

Although he failed to convert on Boxing Day, the sheer volume of chances Onuachu created for himself bodes well if he can get a strong run in the side. Add his impressive hold-up play to this and you have a player worth watching.

HEAD TO HEAD

Played: 182
Crystal Palace: 43
Draw: 25
Saints: 49

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

April 2023: Saints 0-2 Crystal Palace
January 2023: Crystal Palace 1-2 Saints (Ward-Prowse, A.Armstrong) The FA Cup
October 2022: Crystal Palace 1-0 Saints
April 2022: Saints 1-2 Crystal Palace (Romeu)
December 2021: Crystal Palace 2-2 Saints (Ward-Prowse, Broja)

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