Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats

Bournemouth will welcome Crystal Palace to the Vitality Stadium on New Year’s Eve as both sides seek to get back to winning ways.

Newly promoted Premier League side Bournemouth will welcome a struggling Crystal Palace side for their New Year’s Eve clash at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

The Cherries have impressed at times this season but have won just one of their last seven games in the league. This poor run of form has seen them plummet to the 14th spot, a mere four points off the bottom of the table.

Bournemouth kick-started their post-World Cup run with a 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge. Gary O’Neil’s side did give a fair account of themselves and did not sit back against the Blues. However, their difference in quality showed as Graham Potter’s men put them to the sword.

Now back in their home surroundings, they will hope that the clash against another London side, Crystal Palace, yields better results. Patrick Vieira’s side are inconsistent and have picked up just two points from their last three league fixtures.

Despite assembling an exciting young roster, the Eagles have struggled to build upon the promise shown last season and sit in the 11th spot, three points better off than their opponents at the weekend. A loss on the night could very well see them get sucked into the relegation fight. Palace do, however, have a game in hand over the sides around them.

Three points on the board would do well for both sides ahead of a busy second half of the season. Home advantage should give Bournemouth a boost, while Crystal Palace have a better side on paper. It promises to be a good game with neither side willing to cede an inch. The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics might be employed.

Team News & Tactics

Bournemouth

The back-five setup failed against Chelsea on Boxing Day, and there is every reason to believe that Bournemouth will return to a four-man backline, especially at home. Gary O’Neil has several injury concerns and will be without the quartet of David Brooks, Neto, Junior Stanislas and Ryan Fredericks.

Marcus Tavernier is also a doubt for the game, further limiting the Cherries’ options on the night. They are likely to set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Mark Travers in goal.

The quartet of Adam Smith, Marcos Senesi, Lloyd Kelly and Jordan Zemura will form the rearguard in a flat back four. The midfield trio of Lewis Cook, Jefferson Lerma and Philip Billing will be tasked with winning the battle in the middle of the park and also act as a shield for the defence.

Dominic Solanke should start up front, with Ryan Christie and Jaidon Anthony bringing up the flanks. The formation will give the home side flexibility to revert to a 4-4-2 or a 4-5-1 if needed.

O’Neil could opt between Solanke or Kieffer Moore to start up front, with the other having to settle for a spot on the bench. Either way, Bournemouth should have one striker ready to come on should the need arise.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Travers; Smith, Senesi, Kelly, Zemura; Cook, Lerma, Billing; Christie, Solanke, Anthony

Crystal Palace

Patrick Vieira’s side also have injury troubles of their own. The visitors will be without Sam Johnstone, James McArthur and Nathan Ferguson, all of whom are currently out injured. To add to their woes, James Tomkins and Tyrick Mitchell are both suspended.

It is not all bad news as Marc Guehi returns to contention after serving his suspension. He should slot right into the back four alongside Nathaniel Clyne, Joachim Andersen and Jeffrey Schlupp. Spanish shot-stopper Vicente Guaita should start in between the sticks as the last line of defence. 

Cheick Doucoure will start in central midfield, providing the athleticism and presence for Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze to get forward when needed. The trio will come up against a hard-working Bournemouth midfield who are not afraid to get stuck in when needed.

Odsonne Edouard looks set to lead the line, with Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha providing the width. Just how well Zaha can perform against Adam Smith could settle the tie on the night.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Guaita; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Schlupp; Olise, Doucoure, Eze; Ayew, Edouard, Zaha

Key Stats

• Bournemouth and Crystal Palace have faced off ten times in the Premier League so far. The Cherries have won twice, while the Eagles have come out winners four times.
• Crystal Palace are currently on a three-game winning run against Bournemouth in the Premier League.
• Crystal Palace have three clean sheets against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, an away record in the Premier League for the club that is bettered only by their number of shutouts at the King Power Stadium (4).
• The last time that Crystal Palace won their final game of the year in consecutive seasons was in 2001-2003.
• Bournemouth have conceded 34 games so far, the most by any side in the Premier League this season until this moment. However, the tally is somewhat skewed given that they shipped in nine against Liverpool at Anfield earlier in the campaign.

Player to Watch

Dominic Solanke

The former Liverpool man was the driving force behind Bournemouth’s promotion to the top flight last season, netting 29 times and assisting seven more in 46 league fixtures. While he has struggled to repeat the same levels of performance in the Premier League, Solanke remains Bournemouth’s best option up front.

The lanky striker has scored just once in his side’s last six games, a run that mirrors his side’s results. His ability to find the net has been directly proportional to Bournemouth’s results, and his returning to scoring ways could be the catalyst needed to arrest their downward slide.

Possessing pace and power, Solanke can cause Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen problems on the night. More so, his ability to find the net from difficult positions could prove decisive should he receive requisite service on the night.

Prediction

Bournemouth 1-1 Crystal Palace

Both teams have struggled for goals this season and are in the bottom eight of the goals-scored table in the Premier League this season. Having lost their respective games on Boxing Day, both sides are likely to play it safe in an otherwise competitive clash on Saturday. Given their current run of form and struggle for goals, a scored draw appears to be the most likely result.