Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
A stagnating Aston Villa and a Crystal Palace squad trying to keep the group together will meet at Villa Park in Birmingham. Both sides are short of goals and points.
Aston Villa
After the opening two rounds, Aston Villa sit 17th in the English Premier League standings without a single goal scored. Where have the familiar highs from an almost unbeaten pre-season gone — 4:0 over AS Roma and 2:0 over Villarreal CF? Domestically, things look muddled for the team. There was a blunt attacking display at home to Newcastle United (0.20 xG and three shots) followed by total control away at Brentford (17 shots, two on target, 76% possession, and 1.19 xG). However, in both cases Total Under 1.5 landed. Ollie Watkins features regularly, having scored 35 English Premier League goals across the previous two seasons, but the England striker remains quiet.
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, sold Eberechi Eze to Arsenal FC for €55 million last Sunday, which perhaps explains why the squad did not beat Nottingham Forest (1:1). The team was on the front foot at Selhurst Park and let their lead slip, earned late in the first half. The added workload came in the second leg against Fredrikstad in Norway (0:0). The team clearly tried to conserve energy, even though they held the upper hand. Crystal Palace await Yeremy Pino from Villarreal; with the winger’s signing, the attack should gain more impetus.
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace Prediction
But the Spaniard has not arrived yet, and we think the teams will not break out of their goal drought in this one. At most, this tops out at two goals; therefore our selection is Total Under.
