Crystal Palace are set to return to Premier League action on Saturday, facing Leicester City in what could be a pivotal match for their season.
After a shaky start, with just one point from their opening three games, the Eagles are hoping to turn things around following some key signings on deadline day.
The additions of Eddie Nketiah, Maxence Lacroix, and Trevoh Chalobah have strengthened the squad considerably, giving manager Oliver Glasner plenty of options as he looks to secure a much-needed victory.
These new signings, combined with some impressive performances from the squad’s existing players, could provide the spark Palace need to kick-start their campaign.
Ahead of Saturday’s match, football pundit Paul Merson has shared his thoughts on the game and praised the club’s summer transfer activity. In his prediction for SportsKeeda, Merson believes Palace will be too strong for Leicester City.
“Crystal Palace will have too much for Leicester City this weekend,” Merson said. “But I still think Leicester have to approach this game in the right way. They must look at it and think, ‘We can definitely win this.’”
Merson predicts a 3-1 victory for Palace, suggesting the Eagles will have the upper hand, despite Leicester’s potential to score.
“I’m backing Oliver Glasner and company to get a comfortable win here. Leicester might get a goal, but it won’t be enough. They’ve simply not shown enough to suggest they can get a result against a team like Palace,” he added.
A win for Palace would not only secure their first three points of the season but also build on the positive momentum from their 1-1 draw against Chelsea. That result, combined with the new additions, has raised expectations at Selhurst Park.
One of the key aspects of Palace’s transfer business this summer was not just in the players they brought in, but the ones they managed to retain.
Merson was quick to highlight the importance of keeping hold of stars like Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi.
“We cannot really overlook the fact that Palace certainly have the better players in this contest. I thought signing Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea was a good move for them,” Merson remarked. Chalobah, who joins Palace from Chelsea, is seen as a major coup for the club, strengthening their defensive options.
“They’ve also managed to retain the likes of Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze, which is brilliant,” Merson continued. Guehi, in particular, was the subject of interest from Newcastle, but Palace managed to fend off bids and keep him at the club. Eze, meanwhile, also attracted attention, but according to chairman Steve Parish, the interest was not as strong as initially thought.
For Crystal Palace, the squad now assembled at Copers Cope is arguably one of the strongest in recent memory. With key players staying put and the addition of new talent, hopes are high that the Eagles can turn their fortunes around and climb up the Premier League table.
The game against Leicester City presents a crucial opportunity for Glasner’s side to show what they’re capable of and begin a more positive run of form for the season ahead.