Date/Time: Saturday 9th February 2019 (Kick-off 4:00 PM CET).
This is not an easy game to get a read on in the Premier League this weekend as both Crystal Palace and West Ham United can blow hot and cold on any given day.
The edge has to be given to Crystal Palace with the game being hosted by them, but the other side of the coin is the poor record at Selhurst Park against West Ham United. The Eagles have won 1 of their last 6 at home against West Ham United and none of the last 4, while the 2-2 draw between the clubs last season snapped a run of 3 consecutive wins for the visitor.
Crystal Palace look to have rounded into some good form ahead of this fixture though and they have also started scoring more goals. Defensively they have been pretty good at home all season and I do think they are the more likely winners in this one.
You just don't know what you are going to get from West Ham United though who can be brilliant in a win over Arsenal and draw with Liverpool but also lose 4-2 at the bottom club in League One between those games. The away form has been rancid of late as The Hammers have lost 4 straight on their travels in all competitions and conceded at least twice in each of those defeats.
Goals have been a problem for them too as they have not scored in their last 3 away Premier League games and it does feel like the home team can snap the poor recent history against this opponent.
A lack of goals in the Crystal Palace ranks and the concerns surrounding that are eased with the return of Wilfried Zaha and the options of Andros Townsend, Christian Benteke and Michy Batshuayi around him. The defensive issues West Ham United have had away from home can be highlighted here and Crystal Palace can use a strong defensive effort to win this one as they look for a fourth clean sheet in their last 5 at Selhurst Park.
The recent history can't be ignored completely so I will recommend Crystal Palace on the Asian Handicap which returns half the stake in the event of a draw.
Prediction: Crystal Palace - 0.25 Asian Handicap
T&Cs apply.
