Premier League betting tips: Crystal Palace face tense clash at Leeds United
- George Dempsey
- 7 April 2023
Leeds and Crystal Palace sit one point apart in mid-table, but both sides will be desperate for a win to move clear of a wild nine-team relegation battle.
Date, KO time and TV coverage
Premier League, Sunday, April 9, kick-off 2pm BST, Sky Sports.
Predicted score:
Suggested bets:
Key stats
Leeds are unbeaten at home under Javi Gracia, picking up seven points
Six of Leeds' seven wins have come against bottom-half teams
Crystal Palace have lost 18 of the last 20 games in which Zaha wasn't available
Team news
Leeds will be without Tyler Adams and Max Wober, plus long-term absentees Stuart Dallas and Adam Forshaw.
Chris Richards and Nathan Ferguson are doubtful for Crystal Palace, but neither would have started this game. The real blow for Roy Hodgson's men is the absence of talisman Wilfried Zaha.
Verdict
Leeds United and Crystal Palace are separated by just one point in the Premier League table. Sitting 13th and 12th respectively, they can consider themselves midtable teams.
Had it not been for victory in their last outing, Leeds would be in the relegation zone, whilst Crystal Palace would be level on points with 18th-placed Bournemouth.
There's never been a Premier League season like it and this is the latest in a long line of crunch fixtures pitting teams in the bottom third of the table against each other.
Both of these sides have changed managers since the season began and in a short period of time have reaped the rewards. Gracia has picked up 10 points in six games, whilst Hodgson has won his only game in charge.
Wins against Southampton, Wolves, and Nottingham Forest were crucial six-pointers that have left most pundits thinking Leeds under Gracia look like a team who can avoid the drop.
The level of organisation and attacking intent has rocketed under the Spaniard who has benefited from a return to basics. A transition to his 4-2-3-1, essentially a 4-2-2-2 with a false 9, has made Leeds much harder to beat.
The introduction of the wingers playing in wide areas, a novel idea indeed, has coincided with Jack Harrison's return to form and Leeds finding the net nine times in four games.
One of the first things Roy Hodgson did during his last spell at Crystal Palace was to make them harder to beat. That stability has stayed with Palace over the years, but the goal-shy Eagles are often beaten in tight games.
It remains to be seen what longer-term impact Hodgson will have on Palace, but there's every reason to believe if they can win at Elland Road, it'll have to be a smash-and-grab.
Crystal Palace have lost 18 of their last 20 matches when Wilfried Zaha isn't available and more than just goals and assists, Zaha's absence leaves behind no real outlet to relieve pressure.
