Crystal Palace vs Southampton. Premier League.
Selhurst ParkAttendance24,199.
Saturday 16 September 2017 12:34, UK
Roy Hodgson starts life as the new Crystal Palace boss with a home clash against Southampton, live on Sky Sports Premier League on Saturday.
Hodgson replaced Frank de Boer on Tuesday after the Dutchman was dismissed just four games into his tenure.
The former England boss becomes the oldest manager to be appointed at a Premier League club (70 years and 34 days) and will need to use all of that experience to turn around Palace's horrendous start to the campaign.
De Boer was sacked having lost all four games in charge without his team scoring. If they fail to score before 78th minute on Saturday they will beat the Premier League record for longest time taken to score a team's first league goal of the season (currently 438 mins by Newcastle, Aug-Sept 2005).
Southampton have problems in front of goal, too. They've scored just five goals in last 10 games and have failed to score in eight of those.
They could be boosted by the return of Virgil van Dijk, who hasn't played since January due to an ankle injury and has not been selected so far this campaign after handing in a transfer request during the summer.
Southampton have a much better PL win percentage (43.6%) with Van Dijk in the team since he joined the club than without (28.6%).
Hodgson will have Ruben Loftus-Cheek and James Tomkins available for his first match as Crystal Palace manager.
Each missed Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Burnley, under the sacked De Boer, but have recovered their fitness.
Mamadou Sakho and Pape Souare remain short of match fitness, so are likely to miss out, while Wilfried Zaha is continuing his rehabilitation following a knee injury.
Van Dijk could return to Southampton's squad for the first time in eight months.
The Holland international will be given a late fitness test.
Denmark international midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is Saints' only absentee ahead of the trip to Selhurst Park as he has returned to his homeland due to the birth of his daughter.
Crystal Palace have won just two of their 16 Premier League matches against Southampton, (D4 L10), although both victories have come in the last four meetings (both at Selhurst Park).
Southampton have lost their last two Premier League trips to Selhurst Park to face the Eagles, this after avoiding defeat in their first six there (W3 D3).
Saints have won three of their last four meetings with Crystal Palace in all competitions, losing the other. Indeed, there hasn't been a draw between the sides in any of the last 16 clashes (6 wins for Palace, 10 wins for Southampton).
Crystal Palace's xG (expected goals) figure in the Premier League this season is 4.73 - suggesting that an average team would have scored five goals from the chances they've had. This xG tally is higher than Chelsea's (4.08), who have scored eight goals.
The Premier League record for longest time taken by a team to score a goal in a season is 438 minutes, held by Newcastle United in 2005-06. If Crystal Palace don't score before the 78th minute in this match, they'll break this record.
Southampton have failed to score in nine of their last 12 Premier League matches, including three of their four games so far in 2017-18.
Palace have to win this otherwise they are near-on relegated. I say that because of the three games they have after this one [Manchester City away, Manchester United away, Chelsea at home]. If they lose this then they could go eight games without a point. You can't stay up with that.
I don't think Hodgson will make too much of a difference. They were unlucky against Burnley last weekend and if you leave De Boer for this game and win then before you know it things might not be that bad. But then you have three difficult games and Hodgson hasn't worked in the Premier League for five years.
Southampton are a funny team and I think their manager is under a bit of pressure too. Palace need to win this game but I don't think they will.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (9/2 with Sky Bet)
Southampton are Sky Bet's 6/4 favourites for the victory with Crystal Palace 19/10 to make a winning start under Roy Hodgson, while the draw is priced at 11/5. The Eagles' nightmare start has seen them cut to 6/5 favourites for relegation, while the Saints remain 25/1 outsiders for the drop despite their continued troubles in front of goal.
Christian Benteke and Manolo Gabbiadini share favouritism in the first goalscorer betting at 4/1 apiece and are 11/2 to both find the net.
