Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the EFL Cup match.
Aston Villa recently dropped crucial points in the title race, while Crystal Palace secured a surprising victory against a favourite. Still, it's time for both teams to shift focus from the Premier League, as a high-stakes EFL Cup fixture awaits.
Aston Villa
By the draw's fortune, this encounter marks Aston Villa's third consecutive home game. In the previous two, they secured four points: three in the Champions League against Bologna (2:0) and one in the Premier League against Bournemouth (1:1). In the latter, Aston Villa conceded a goal in the 96th minute from a free kick. Their overall dominance didn't translate into a win but was at least enough for a draw: 1.81 vs 0.31 in xG and 18(8) vs 10(3) in shots.
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace have consistently faced challenges, even at home. It took the team five attempts to register their first Premier League win, partly due to a tough schedule featuring Manchester United and Liverpool. Yet, they recently triumphed over Tottenham Hotspur, who were in fine form. Away from home, Crystal Palace's only joy came in the EFL Cup against Queens Park Rangers (2:1), although QPR were in poor shape in September, making any other result surprising. In the Premier League, Crystal Palace managed just a point at Stamford Bridge (1:1), where Chelsea squandered many chances (2.37 vs 0.54 in xG), while they lost in their other three away fixtures.
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace Prediction
Crystal Palace can't perform miracles every match, and indeed, their win wasn’t exactly miraculous. Tottenham Hotspur put in a lacklustre performance compared to their recent games. No matter the form, Aston Villa are stronger than them, which is why the hosts will win.
