2025-26 Premier League: Week Eight – Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth

Crystal Palace look to bounce back from their first defeat of the season in a tricky Premier League test against Bournemouth. 

Victory would see Palace climb above Bournemouth into second with a win if Manchester City fail to beat Everton elsewhere.

Andoni Iraola’s Cherries can go top with a win.

 

Team News

Chadi Riad could make his first appearance of the season for Palace following his recovery from a knee injury.

Caleb Kporha (back) and Cheick Doucoure (knee) remain absent.

Bournemouth will be without Julio Soler who is on international duty at the FIFA Under-20s World Cup.

Adam Smith (hamstring) and Enes Unal (knee) remain sidelined.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Palace host Bournemouth at Selhurst Park on Saturday 18 October at 3pm BST, albeit untelevised live in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Palace have lost two of their last nine meetings against Bournemouth (W5, D2, L2).
• Bournemouth have claimed just four points in their last five league visits to Palace (W1, D1, L3).
• Palace have kept clean sheets in three of their last four home games against Bournemouth (W2, D1, L1), only failing to do so in a 2-0 loss in December 2023.
• Ismaila Sarr has scored in two of Palace’s three league matches at home this season.
• Three of Antoine Semenyo’s six league goals for Bournemouth this season have been scored away from home.

 

Prediction

With their 19-match unbeaten run in all competitions having ended at Everton just before the break, Palace have had the fortnight to reset and learn from their early Thursday-Sunday exploits which will be key through the next two months in terms of tactical and squad selections.

Their failure to kill the game off when in control however was costly and will in-turn motivate them here to be more ruthless, whilst adapting quicker to oppositional change in intensity.

Bournemouth meanwhile needed three late goals for a comeback victory against Fulham in pretty atrocious weather conditions, which showed how much quality is in this team to still get the win in those sort of conditions when others might of settled for a draw until the deadlock was broken.

Palace however won’t be easy hosts given that they’re psychologically wounded from the ending of their unbeaten run but both teams have goals in them, so I expect an entertaining game with a few goals.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-2 Bournemouth

Result: Crystal Palace 3-3 Bournemouth