Six months on from becoming one of the first Premier League teams to be broadcast live on BBC One, Crystal Palace features in the broadcaster’s first-ever Boxing Day clash as they visit Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Victory could see Villa temporarily climb to sixth if Southampton fail to beat Fulham in the other 3pm kick-off, whilst Palace could go 11th for a few hours at a minimum with a win.
Team News
Ross Barkley will return for Aston Villa after missing their last four matches with a hamstring injury.
Ezri Konsa will also return after sitting out the win over West Brom with illness but Wesley (knee) and Trezeguet (hamstring) remain absent.
Palace will be without Gary Cahill after he suffered a hamstring injury during their mauling against Liverpool last weekend.
Christian Benteke returns after serving a one match ban but Wayne Hennessey, Martin Kelly, Connor Wickham (all thigh), Martin Kelly and Mamadou Sakho (both calf) are still ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Aston Villa have taken seven points from their last five meetings against Crystal Palace (W2, D1, L2).
- Palace are unbeaten in three of their last five league trips to Villa Park (W1, D2, L2).
- This Premier League fixture took place on Boxing Day in 2013-14 season, with Palace running out 1-0 winners courtesy of Dwight Gayle’s 90th minute winner.
- Two of Villa’s three league penalties this season have come from Anwar El Ghazi, with Ollie Watkins scoring the other spot-kick.
- No Palace defender has lost more aerial battles so far this season than Scott Dann, who has lost 18 aerial duels in just seven appearances.
- Villa have drawn just one of their last five Boxing Day home matches at Villa Park (W2, D1, L2).
- Palace are unbeaten in three away Boxing Day trips since returning to the top flight in 2013-14 season (W1, D2).
Prediction
Villa were just relentlessly brilliant against West Brom in terms of their attacking build-up play, although Sam Johnstone was alert to deny many of their shots so if they can replicate that here then this could be a rough afternoon for Palace.
Despite conceding early against Liverpool last Saturday, Palace showed real spirit to try and get back into the game throughout the first-half but their defence was dire with massive gaps and no notable man-marking which cost them seven goals.
Palace’s defending therefore has to improve because if there is no notable improvement, I fear that this could be an one-sided affair, even though Palace won this Boxing Day fixture in 2013 because Villa are playing with real confidence at present and I can’t see them losing this game.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-0 Crystal Palace
Result: Aston Villa 3-0 Crystal Palace
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