In the fourth round of the English Premier League, Crystal Palace is set to face Sunderland. The match will be held in London on Saturday, 13 September, with kick-off at 16:00 Central European Time. Here’s a look at the matchup.
Match Preview
This season, Crystal Palace made major changes to their squad, which have influenced their playing style. After Eberechi Eze left, the club focused on bringing in new players to strengthen their lineup.
In July, Palace signed Croatian defender Borna Sosa from Ajax and Argentine goalkeeper Walter BenÃtez from PSV for free. In August, they added French defender Jeidy Kanwo and Villarreal forward Yeremy Pino. These new players aim to enhance the club’s defense and attacking options.
Under manager Oliver Glasner, the Eagles are working towards a consistent and attacking game. Crystal Palace is looking to achieve strong results in the Premier League and a successful UEFA Conference League run.
The team started the season strongly, winning the English Super Cup against Liverpool and drawing their Premier League matches against Chelsea and Nottingham Forest. Most recently, Palace secured a convincing victory over Aston Villa.
Sunderland, back in the Premier League, has made several key additions this summer, investing around €200 million in new players. The arrivals of Xhaka, Le Fée, Adingra, Mukiele, and Brobbey are expected to enhance the team’s depth and competitiveness.
Head coach Régis Le Bris has implemented an aggressive style focused on quick counterattacks and pressing. The team is showing determination to secure their Premier League spot and is proving to be a challenging opponent.
With their improved roster and coaching, Sunderland aims beyond just staying in the league and is looking for a mid-table finish.
The Black Cats quickly found success, winning against West Ham and Brentford at home, but faced a loss against Burnley away. Sunderland has the potential to surprise those expecting a quick drop back to the Championship.
Match Facts
- Crystal Palace has conceded only one goal in their last five matches.
- The Eagles have not lost at home since February.
- Sunderland has kept a clean sheet in just one of their four matches this season.
- Crystal Palace averages 1.5 goals per game at home, while Sunderland averages 1 goal per game away.
Probable Lineups
- Crystal Palace: Henderson, Guehi, Lacroix, Richards, Mitchell, Muñoz, Hughes, Wharton, Sarr, Lerma, Mateta.
- Sunderland: Rufs, Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Mandava, Xhaka, Sadiki, Diarra, Le Fée, Adingra, Isidor.
Head-to-Head
- The teams have not faced each other since 2017.
- Crystal Palace has lost their last three home matches against Sunderland.
Prediction
With the advantage of playing at home, Palace appears to be the favorite. Sunderland has performed well at home but has struggled to secure points on the road. It is likely that the London team will win and extend their unbeaten streak. My prediction is a Crystal Palace victory.