Crystal Palace and Aston Villa head into Matchday 21 of the Premier League this Wednesday with very different needs and colliding narratives at Selhurst Park. Palace are in a tense moment, winless in seven matches and under pressure to deliver results at home, while Aston Villa, enjoying a strong campaign under Unai Emery, see the matchup as a test of consistency as they push up the table.
Right in the middle of it all sits the standings, with Villa trailing Arsenal and level with Manchester City on points, and Palace looking upward with urgency for points that could narrow the gap to the fourth-place spot.
Crystal Palace face home urgency and attacking adjustments
Crystal Palace arrive carrying a problem that has become hard to ignore: the inability to turn performance into wins. Seven matches without a victory across all competitions and just two home wins in the Premier League paint a worrying picture at Selhurst Park, a ground that should be an advantage.
Jean-Philippe Mateta, with eight goals, leads an attack that lacks consistency, and that imbalance has worn down collective confidence. Palace’s recent unbeaten run against Aston Villa, six matches without a loss, is a detail that matters even amid the tension, as it shows the team has previously found answers in this matchup. How Johnson links up with Mateta and the rest of the attack could be decisive in breaking a spell that has felt stuck.
Probable Crystal Palace lineup: Henderson; Canvot, Lacroix, Guehi; Rodney, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Johnson, Pino; Mateta
Aston Villa bring steady form and a stubborn hoodoo to break
Aston Villa enter the game with numbers that invite a closer look. Joint second on points with Manchester City and just six behind Arsenal, Unai Emery’s side have shown more consistency than many of their rivals this season. The run of 11 straight wins ended against Arsenal, but it didn’t dent confidence. Instead, Villa responded with a solid 3–1 win over Nottingham Forest.
Ollie Watkins, who’s scored four goals in his last three matches, has returned to the spotlight as a forward the team can rely on, even though the attack doesn’t revolve solely around him. Villa still carry an awkward hoodoo against Palace, winless in their last six meetings, and that backdrop may shape how they approach the game, with respect for the opponent and a focus on sustaining collective growth away from home.
Probable Aston Villa lineup: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins
Where to watch Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa in the Premier League
United Kingdom: Sky Go UK, SKY GO Extra, Sky Sports+
Canada: DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 4 Canada
United States: Peacock
What is the date and kick-off time for Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa in the Premier League
United Kingdom: 7:30 PM
United States and Canada (Eastern Time): 3:30 PM
United States and Canada (Pacific Time): 12:30 PM