Crystal Palace will host Luton Town in the Premier League on Saturday. Gameweek 27 saw the Eagles fall victim to a thrilling comeback by Tottenham Hotspur. They lost 3-1 to the Lilywhites. The Hatters suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Aston Villa.
Preview (Crystal Palace vs. Luton Town)
Just before the hour mark, Palace jewel Eberechi Eze, who was playing in his first Premier League since the end of January due to a muscular ailment, broke the deadlock at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a fierce free kick, truly embodying the expression return with a bang. In the last 15 minutes, Oliver Glasner’s team looked like they would win again in the Austrian’s second game. However, a late Tottenham surge led by Timo Werner, Cristian Romero, and Son Heung-min turned the tide of the game. It sent the Eagles back to Selhurst Park with no victory.
With three quick goals to defeat Burnley in their first match under new management, Glasner’s Palace received a taste of their own medicine in North London. The Eagles, who are now in 14th position in the Premier League, risk getting further drawn into the relegation dogfight. The Eagles supporters have found some solace in Selhurst Park’s performance since the holidays. The hosts have only lost three of their previous six home games (3-1 against Chelsea last month). Eze’s impending return to Selhurst Park will also bring a few more smiles to faces.
In addition, the Eagles have won four of Palace’s last five Premier League games against newly promoted teams (the most recent being their 3-0 victory over Burnley in Glasner’s first game); the lone exception to this trend was against Saturday’s opponents. Pained Luton Town supporters watched another scorching center-forward terrorize their defense on March 2, four days after witnessing Erling Haaland’s five-goal masterclass in their FA Cup loss to Manchester City. Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa gave the Lions two goals within the first forty-five minutes.
Team News
In Palace’s match against Tottenham, Eze made his comeback after a month-long absence, but Glasner was unable to use Michael Olise (thigh), Rob Holding (ankle), Cheick Doucoure (Achilles), Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (thigh), or Marc Guehi—the latter of whom had to have surgery for a knee injury. With a hip issue, Jordan Ayew—who is second in the Premier League this season in terms of fouls committed. He was substituted out of the match against Spurs in the 71st minute. However, Glasner does not believe the attacker suffered any serious injuries.
Consequently, Luton manager Edwards’s gamble on Bell for the Villa match backfired miserably. Bell is just one of ten horrifying worries for the devastated Hatters, who are unable to bring along Mads Andersen (calf), Marvellous Nakamba (knee), Jacob Brown (knee), Elijah Adebayo (thigh), Dan Potts (thigh), Tom Lockyer (heart), or Mads Andersen (thigh) for the journey to Selhurst Park. Joe Johnson and Gabriel Osho, two possible Bell replacements, were likewise sidelined for the Lions’ visit.
Crystal Palace 3-1 Luton Town
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