Last updated & checked: 10/08/2021
Crystal Palace welcome West Ham United to Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon, with Roy Hodgson’s team looking to continue their recent good form. The Eagles are unbeaten in their last three games in all competitions, with that run including a fine 2-0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the FA Cup. In their past six league matches at home, Hodgson’s team have picked up 10 points from a possible 18. Last weekend, they despatched struggling Fulham 2-0 at Selhurst Park, and they will fancy another three points against the Hammers this weekend.
West Ham will have received some encouragement from their 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool on Monday, but Manuel Pellegrini’s team lost their three previous games in all competitions. That run of defeats, which included a defeat to League One’s AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup, followed a Premier League win over Arsenal, highlighting the Hammers’ inconsistency this season.
Crystal Palace vs West Ham Prediction: Palace 1-0 Hammers
Our prediction is that Palace will win this game 1-0. Roy Hodgson’s team have been in good form recently, especially in their last three games, and we think that home advantage will give them the edge in this fixture. West Ham are still not as consistent as they should be, and if Palace can get at them early, their confidence might fold. It is unlikely to be an easy win for Palace, though, and we suspect that the game might actually turn into a bit of battle, with the home side just having enough of an edge to triumph in the end.
Our recommended tip: Palace to 0
Our recommended tip for this game comes from Coral, who are offering odds of 13/5 on Palace winning to nil. This looks a good bet to us, as we have predicted that the home side will win 1-0. Home advantage looks like being key to the outcome of this game, and Palace have a good recent home record. We also suspect that West Ham’s recent inconsistency is bound to affect their performance. Betting on Palace to win to nil also gives you a certain amount of flexibility when it comes the precise final score, increasing the possibilities of a winning bet.
Previous matches
These two sides have played each other on a total of 15 occasions in Premier League history. Out of those 15 games, Palace have won four, West Ham seven and there have been four draws. At Selhurst Park, Palace have won twice and the Hammers three times in the Premier League era.
The most recent meeting between the teams was in the Premier League earlier this season. At the London Stadium on December 8, West Ham won 3-2. James McArthur scored for Palace in the sixth minute, before Robert Snodgrass, Javier Hernandez and Felipe Anderson scored for the Hammers. Jeffrey Schlupp added a late consolation for Palace.
Top 3 Premier League Bookies
Players to watch: Luka Milivojevic & Felipe Anderson
Luka Milivojevic has netted seven goals for Palace this season, with six of those goals coming from the penalty spot. He has also provided one assist. The Serb is also an important part of the Eagles’ midfield, having made an average of 53.2 passes per game in the Premier League in 2018/19, and has also played 97 accurate long balls. An inspirational skipper, when the Serb is at his best Palace can beat anyone.
West Ham midfielder Felipe Anderson has turned out to be an important part of Pellegrini’s team, after signing from Lazio in the summer. The Brazilian has weighed in with eight goals and three assists in his 25 Premier League appearances so far this season, and has also played 62 accurate long balls. He has created eight big chances too, and Palace will need to keep a close eye on him on Saturday.
