Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace: Preview, Predictions and Lineups

Fifth-placed Bournemouth have plenty to cheer about as they enjoy the festivities and have a great chance of extending their unbeaten run against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.

The Cherries recorded their second 3-0 win at Old Trafford in just over a year on Sunday as Andoni Iraola’s side climbed above champions Manchester City in the Premier League table. Bournemouth have been one of the sides standing out in 2024 and have 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 were enjoying an impressive unbeaten run before they faced him Arsenal twice last week. The Gunners first knocked them out of the Carabao Cup before being beaten 5-1 at Selhurst Park on Saturday. However, the result may have flattered the visitors, as Palace worried Mikel Arteta’s team like few teams this term.

The Eagles’ winter surge means they are 16th and out of the relegation zone, but their protection from 18th-placed Wolves is just four points.

Here 90 minutes guide for this Boxing Day Premier League conflict.

Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace H2H record (last five matches)

Current form (all competitions)

The Cherries’ injury list has not changed since their triumph at Old Trafford, with Andoni Iraola’s side producing hugely impressive results without several key individuals.

Bournemouth are currently 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 out.

Evanilson shook off the knock to start on Sunday and should be in line to feature on Boxing Day. Expect Lewis Cook to return to Iraola’s midfield to replace Tyler Adams.

Predicted line-up of Bournemouth against Palace (4-2-3-1): Cap; Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara; Evanilson.

Eberechi Eze missed the weekend defeat to Arsenal with a foot injury and is a doubt for the trip to the south coast on Thursday. The Palace The playmaker has struggled to find his best form this term, but his absence on Boxing Day would be a huge blow.

Daichi Kamada attempted to fill Eze’s void at the weekend, with the Japan international likely to continue on the sidelines if the England international is not fit to feature.

The visitors are still without Adam Wharton due to a groin injury. Summer signing Chadi Riad is closing in on a return from a knee injury but won’t be back until 2025. Matheus Franca is nursing a broken rib.

Daniel Munoz is eligible to return from suspension.

Palace predicted line-up against Bournemouth (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Kamada; Mateta.

Bournemouth go into the competition in good spirits, but a banana peel awaits them on Boxing Day. This will be seen as a game the hosts should win, 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 for form this term and Oliver Glasner has undoubtedly ensured that Palace are once again a tricky proposition. Bournemouth’s directness is capable of causing any problems for the Premier League outfit, but the hosts could succumb to hints of complacency on Boxing Day.

After the highlights of another strike at Old Trafford, Bournemouth could make their visitors work hard on Thursday.

Prediction: Bournemouth 2-2 Crystal Palace

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