Boxing Day sees an inform Bournemouth side host Crystal Palace at the Vitality stadium. Bournemouth look to continue their good run of form which sees them sat 3 points off the top 4 as Place look to put space in between them and the bottom 3.
Bournemouth come into this game in game unbeaten in their last 5, with a 3-0 win away at Old Trafford last time out seeing them sat in the European places and just 3 points off the illustrious top 4. On the other hand, Crystal Palace come into this game after a 5-1 thrashing at home to Arsenal which followed another loss to Arsenal in the Carabao cup during the week.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Line-Up: Kepa; Kerkez, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Smith; Christie, Cook; Ouattara, Kluivert, Semenyo; Evanilson
Bournemouth have started about as well as they could’ve hoped for as they find themselves right in the mix for Europe, sitting in 5th position in the table. The Cherries have enjoyed great success under Iraola, and this game may be no different as they look to go level on points with Nottingham Forest in 4th. Bournemouth have some great danger in attack, with Evanilson up top and behind him the small matter of Kluivert, Semenyo and Ouattara who will no doubt cause the Palace backline some headaches. Add to that the danger of Huijsen from set pieces and Bournemouth look to be a serious threat on boxing day and throughout the rest of the season.
Formation: 3-4-2-1
Predicted Line-Up: Henderson; Guehi, Lacroix, Chalobah; Mitchell, Lerma, Hughes, Munoz; Eze, Sarr; Mateta
Before the games against Arsenal, Palace were unbeaten in five and had took points off the likes of Aston Villa, Newcastle, Manchester City and rivals Brighton. There was a bit of expectation on Crystal Palace this year as many expected them to continue their form from the end of last year which coincided with the arrival of Oliver Glasner and the goalscoring form that Jean Phillipe Mateta found himself in, however the season has not gone that way so far and this game sees Palace look to put some distance between themselves and the bottom three. The previously mentioned Mateta could play a part in this game by finding the back of the net, helped by the creativity Ismaila Sarr and Eberechi Eze.
There have been 15 matches against these two since 2015, with Palace holding the advantage over Bournemouth with 6 wins compared to the Cherries’ 4 in this fixture.
However, recently Bournemouth have seen the most success, winning both home and away against Palace last season.
With the form and league position that Bournemouth find themselves in, it would be hard to see anything other than a home win.
2nd April 2024 – Bournemouth 1-0 Crystal Palace – Premier League
6th December 2023 – Crystal Palace 0-2 Bournemouth – Premier League
13th May 2023 – Crystal Palace 2-0 Bournemouth – Premier League
31st December 2022 – Bournemouth 0-2 Crystal Palace – Premier League
15th September 2020 – Bournemouth (PENS) 0-0 Crystal Palace – EFL Cup
Bournemouth have been nothing short of excellent this season and find themselves on a great run of form and on a high after beating Man United 3-0 at Old Trafford. With the attacking talent that they have it would be hard not to see a home win.
For that reason, our betting experts have gone with Half Time/Full Time Result AFC Bournemouth/Draw as our best value tip for this game.
Odds of 14/1 mean that a £10 bet has the potential to return up to £150 in this match.
(odds subject to change)
AFC Bournemouth 2-0 Crystal Palace
With the form Bournemouth are in plus the position they find themselves in the table, we think they will have to much for a Palace team fighting their own battle towards the bottom.
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