Struggling Crystal Palace and Leeds are both without a win in four games ahead of their tussle at Selhurst Park today. The teams couldn’t be separated when they last met in April (0-0), though another scoreless stalemate seems unlikely in today’s rematch. Can either side carve out a victory for the first time since August?
Below, we’ve combined useful info on shots, corners, cards, xG and more into a stats pack for the Eagles’ skirmish with Leeds. Feel free to use our groundwork to construct some winning bet builders, and give my Stats Pack Guide a read if you want to get the best out of it. Good luck!
Predicted Lineups
Jack Butland, James McArthur and Nathan Ferguson remain long-term absentees for Crystal Palace, while Joachim Andersen and Nathaniel Clyne are also expected to sit out today’s game after both defenders came off injured against Chelsea last time out.
Joel Ward and James Tomkins are expected to slot into the team in their absence, while Michael Olise and Jeffrey Schlupp will compete for a spot in midfield.
Stuart Dallas is in the treatment room for Leeds, as is Archie Gray. Luis Sinisterra is suspended following his red card against Aston Villa last weekend.
Patrick Bamford will hope to start up front, though Jesse Marsch seems to prefer Rodrigo in that position for the time being.
Team Stats
Crystal Palace have won only once in eight attempts this season and their underlying stats for the campaign highlight their issues at both ends of the pitch.
Palace’s xG against figure per 90 (1.88) feels significant as does their shots against tally (15.71 p/90). The Eagles have also been conceding plenty of corners (5.43 p/90) as well as territory. They’ve held possession for just 41.3% per game on average so far.
Leeds have claimed just two victories this term and their stats so far have an unusually symmetrical look. Their goals for and against figures per 90 are identical (1.43 each), while their shots and shots on target both for and against are also close.
Leeds’s high cards for (2.71) and against (2.00) hauls per 90 suggest we should expect another fiery contest when they visit Selhurst Park. Four cards were brandished when the teams met there in April and eight were handed out when they clashed at Elland Road in November last year.
Player Shots and Shots on Target
Wilfried Zaha (2.54 shots per 90) and Odsonne Edouard (1.96) have been Palace’s most-threatening players this season, though the former’s numbers look even more impressive when you consider that Edouard has played fewer overall minutes (532 to 369).
Zaha mustered seven shots when Palace last played Leeds in April with five of those efforts hitting the target. The winger somehow failed to score, however.
Rodrigo (4.67 shots p/90) has been enjoying his more advanced role under Jesse Marsch, though Jack Harrison (0.83) has been unusually shot-shy this term.
Harrison did manage to let fly at goal twice on his last visit to Selhurst Park, however, while Spanish midfield Marc Roca (1.24 p/90) has also been enjoying a strike from distance this season.
Player Goals and Assists
Wilfried Zaha is unmatched in the goal-scoring department for Palace this season (four), though the wide attacker has yet to set up any of his teammates.
Zaha has scored 50% of the Eagles’ total goals himself, while Jean-Philippe Mateta, Odsonne Edouard and Joachim Andersen have chipped in with one strike each. Edouard broke his duck for the campaign against Chelsea last weekend.
Spanish forward Rodrigo has five goal contributions (4G, 1A), though the 31-year-old hasn’t found the net since he scored against Chelsea in August.
Jack Harrison has been Leeds’s main creative force with three assists, though Dan James and Patrick Bamford have yet to make any sort of impact this term (0G, 0A).
Crystal Palace Cards
Odsonne Edouard (2.68 fouls p/90) has emerged from his battles with centre-halves with two bookings this season and the French forward will try to make his presence felt again against Leeds.
Joel Ward can often be caught flatfooted by pacey wide attackers and the 32-year-old faces a test of his tackling technique today. Cheick Doucoure (1.06 fouls per game) is Palace’s main ball-winner in midfield and he should have a heavy workload again this afternoon.
Leeds have a number of tricky customers in their attacking midfield and wing positions, with Brenden Aaronson and Jack Harrison both capable of causing Palace a headache or two.
Jack Harrison (fouled 2.17 times p/90) should test Joel Ward’s patience, while Brendan Aaronson’s penetrative runs could draw fouls from Doucoure. Rodrigo has also started the season in fine form, and whilst he doesn’t appear on the list, the energetic forward could cause a number of problems a he looks to work across the Palace defence.
Match-Ups to watch
Joel Ward vs Jack Harrison
Tyrick Mitchell vs Rodrigo
Cheick Doucoure vs Brenden Aaronson
Leeds Cards
Leeds do a lot of their heavy lifting (and fouling) in midfield, when a Tyler Adams and Marc Roca combination have picked up four booking between them.
Danish right-back Rasmus Kristensen (1.75 fouls p/90) has been making his mark, though sometimes with too much intensity and he has been carded twice in just six appearances. Jack Harrison knows how to mix it out of possession too and the wide midfielder has been committing 1.83 fouls p/90.
Ivorian winger Wilfried Zaha (fouled 3.56 times p/90) remains one of the Premier League’s most-fouled players and the influential 29-year-old could get Rasmus Kristensen in a twist today.
Eberechi Eze has dancing feet in midfield (4.10 dribbles p/90) and his skills could tempt Marc Roca into a mistimed tackle or two. Jeffrey Schupp (fouled 1.38 times per 90) could be on the end of similar treatment when he drifts near the combative Tyler Adams.
Match-Ups to watch
Rasmus Kristensen vs Wilfried Zaha
Marc Roca vs Eberechi Eze
Tyler Adams vs Jeffrey Schupp
