Crystal Palace will host championship side Watford in their fourth friendly match this season at the Crystal Palace Academy, Kent.
Key Takeaways
- In their last match, Watford drew with National League side Boreham Wood.
- Pre-season matches have seen Crystal Palace win one game, draw one, and lose one.
- Crystal Palace won 4-0 in their last match against League Two side Crawley.
After retaining Roy Hodgson for next season, Crystal Palace have set new goals for the next season. They have played 3 friendlies so far and have seen mixed results with one win, one loss and one draw. Now facing a tough opponent such as Watford, they will be put to the test before the upcoming season begins.
Crystal Palace Form
During Roy Hodgson's tenure at Crystal Palace last season, the club underwent a dramatic change. Despite sailing in the boat of relegation zone battle, the experienced manager led them to a 11th-place finish.
Under him, the team looked completely different and will now look to continue the momentum left behind last season. Wilfried Zaha's future at Palace still hangs in the balance, so there is a lot of work to be done on the training ground. In the second half of the season under Englishman, their defensive organization was compact, but some tweaks are still needed.
Watford Form
In the championship, Watford had a terrible season. The team finished 11th in the league with 16 wins, 15 draws, and 15 losses. Last season, Watford was tipped to finish at least in the playoffs, but their season went from bad to worse.
To return to the top division of English football, they must redeem themselves. This pre-season, new manager Valerein Ismael has a lot of work to do with a lot of incoming and outgoing players.
Head-to-Head
For years, Crystal Palace and Watford shared a mid-table rivalry in the Premier League, always having close matches. Although Watford has dropped to the second division, we expect a close match. In the last 23 matches, Crystal Palace have won 12 of them, while Watford have won only six.
Team News
All Crystal Palace's main players are available for the match, but Michael Olise is currently injured. Olise suffered a hamstring injury at the Under-21 Euros.
This match is likely to feature all of Watford's players who have returned to training.
Key Players
Since arriving at Crystal Palace in 2020, Eberechi Eze has been an enigma. During the 2022/23 season, he had 10 goals and four assists, which was his best season in his career. In the event that Zaha leaves, Eze will look to build on the momentum and fill the void.
Watford's main attacking threat is Ismaila Sarr, an electrifying winger. With his blistering pace and excellent technical ability, Sarr can trouble any defense. To thwart his dangerous runs, Crystal Palace's backline needs to be vigilant. Last season, he scored 10 goals and contributed 7 assists.
How to watch on TV or Online
Crystal Palace vs Watford friendly will be streamed live on Hive TV and Palace TV.
Final Thoughts
It will be an exciting match as the two teams meet on the turf of Crystal Palace Academy. Crystal Palace's tactical approach and Watford's attacking intent promise an evenly contested match. Fans can expect end-to-end action and spectacular goals, making this a game not to be missed. With so much at stake in the pre-season friendly, both Crystal Palace and Watford will be determined to secure a crucial victory and set the tone for their respective campaigns.