Fifth-placed Bournemouth have plenty to cheer about as they enjoy the festive season, and have a good chance of extending their unbeaten run against Crystal Palace on Christmas Day.
The Cherries secured their second 3-0 win at Old Trafford in just over a year on Sunday as Andoni Iraola’s side moved above champions Manchester City in the Premier League table. Bournemouth have been one of the standout teams of 2024 and harbor legitimate aspirations of securing their first taste of European football. They head into Thursday’s game having won four of their previous five games.
Palace had enjoyed an impressive unbeaten run prior to their clash arsenal twice last week. The Gunners knocked them out of the Carabao Cup for the first time before going down 5-1 at Selhurst Park on Saturday. The scoreline may have flattered the visitors, however, with Palace worrying Mikel Arteta’s side as few teams have such a mandate.
The Eagles’ winter surge means they are 16th and out of the relegation zone, but their buffer to 18th-placed Wolves is just four points.
here it is 90 minutes guide this Boxing Day Premier League shock
Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace H2H Record (Last Five Matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Bournemouth |
Crystal Palace |
|---|---|
|
Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth – 22/12/24 |
Crystal Palace 1-5 Arsenal – 21/12/24 |
|
Bournemouth 1-1 Man Utd – 16/12/24 |
Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace – 18/12/24 |
|
Ipswich Town 1-2 Bournemouth – 24/12/08 |
Brighton 1-3 Crystal Palace – 15/12/24 |
|
Bournemouth 1-0 Tottenham – 05/12/24 |
Crystal Palace 2-2 Man City – 07/12/24 |
|
Wolves 2-4 Bournemouth – 30/11/24 |
Ipswich 0-1 Crystal Palace – 03/12/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
united kingdom |
Amazon Prime Video |
|
united states |
royal peacock |
|
canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 5 Canada |
The Cherries’ injury list has been unchanged since their triumph at Old Trafford, with Andoni Iraola’s side securing hugely impressive results without a couple of key players.
Bournemouth are currently operating without starting centre-back Marcos Senesi with a muscle injury and Marcus Tavernier with a hamstring problem. Julian Araujo, Alex Scott and Luis Sinisterra are also sidelined.
Evanilson took a knock to start on Sunday and should be fine to feature on Boxing Day. Expect Lewis Cook to return to Iraola’s midfield to replace Tyler Adams.
Bournemouth predicted line-up against Palace (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara; Evanilson.
Eberechi Eze missed the defeat to Arsenal at the weekend with a foot injury and is a doubt for Thursday’s trip to the south coast. The palace The playmaker has struggled to find his best form this term, but his absence on Christmas Day would be a huge blow.
Daichi Kamada tried to fill Eze’s void at the weekend, with the Japan international likely to continue in the side if the England international is not fit.
The visitors are still without Adam Wharton with a groin injury. Summer signing Chadi Riad is nearing a return from a knee injury but will not return until 2025. Matheus Franca is nursing a broken rib.
Daniel Muñoz is eligible to return from suspension.
Palace predicted line-up against Bournemouth (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Muñoz, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Kamada; tests
Bournemouth enter the competition in high spirits but a banana skin awaits them on Christmas Day. This will be seen as a must-win game for the hosts, but Palace have been impressive of late and you shouldn’t read too much into Saturday’s 5-1 defeat. That game was much closer than the score suggests.
Eze’s absence is a blow, but the Englishman has struggled to form this term and Oliver Glasner has certainly ensured that Palace are once again a tricky proposition. Bournemouth’s forwardness is capable of causing problems for the Premier League outfit, but the hosts may succumb to signs of complacency on Christmas Day.
After the highs of another Old Trafford strike, Bournemouth could be made to work hard by their visitors on Thursday.
