Crystal Palace v Leeds United: YEP Jury predictions

KEITH INGHAM

After Monday’s disappointing 4-1 home defeat by Leicester City, United travel down to London hoping to repeat their marvellous display at Villa Park.

The game with Leicester is best forgotten and was one just to put down as one of those nights when we weren’t just ‘at it’. City were the better team.

Marcelo Bielsa’s squad for the game will be without injured Diego Llorente, Kalvin Phillips and Rodrigo due to Covid protocols.

Pablo Hernandez, strangely substituted on Monday for Tyler Roberts, will probably continue in the ‘number 10’ role.

Palace won’t be an easy game. They have a decent squad that includes Wilfried Zaha and others that could test the Leeds rearguard.

They will be without their captain Luka Milivojević who is suspended. Selhurst Park has been a pretty unlucky ground for United in the past.

Scoring goals wins matches so it is hoped Patrick Bamford is back to the form that saw him complete a left-footed trio in the last away game.

I’ll go for a draw in this game; I don’t see Leeds getting three points unfortunately.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 2 Leeds United 2.

ANDY RHODES

After an eye-opening defeat on Monday, Leeds will be hoping to bounce back on the road. So far, United have been excellent on their travels, winning two and putting in a top display at Liverpool.

At Selhurst Park, Leeds will face a side capable of getting results. With the likes of Wilfried Zaha, Eberechi Eze and Michy Batshuayi, Palace have pace, creativity and power.

These three qualities were enough for Leicester to pick Leeds apart on Monday, but Marcelo Bielsa has seen enough in his career to not succumb to the same play twice.

United clearly missed the influence of Rodrigo on Monday and will have to find a solution in London.

Pablo Hernandez took time to get into that game, but he looked positive in the second half.

Patrick Bamford had an off-game but he has been too good this season to miss out two weeks on the spin.

Leeds will hope that their London curse was left in the Championship. This could go either way, but a win would go a long way.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 2 Leeds United 1.

MATTHEW EVANS

United were brought back down to earth with a bump on Monday night by a Leicester side that looked totally unthreatening for 90 per cent of the game and absolutely ruthless the other 10 per cent.

We are going to have to work out how to play against these sides who don’t turn up with the reputation of Liverpool or Manchester City and who aren’t too proud to sit back and soak up pressure and possession before picking us off on the counter.

Crystal Palace seem certain to do the same tomorrow afternoon so we have an immediate opportunity to fix things.

The losses of Rodrigo and Kalvin Phillips would hurt any side and we are also without new signings Raphinha and Llorente.

I’d like to see Bielsa restore Mateusz Klich to his normal role in the side and bring in Pascal Struijk as the defensive midfielder.

That should give us the familiarity to play our normal game and, if we can grab the first goal, then a win at Selhurst Park is not out of the question.

Yet again those of us not paying the £14.95 fee will be listening on the wireless – hopefully for the final time.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 1 Leeds United 2.

DAVID WATKINS

Leeds travel to Selhurst Park (one of my favourite away days) following a disappointing defeat to Leicester.

Normally a 4-1 home defeat would be a worry, but the mistakes made and chances missed will, hopefully, not be repeated and, actually, there was less between the teams than that score suggests.

Leeds and Palace sit 12th and 13th in the table with near identical records, the only difference being Leeds have scored and conceded more goals.

The two sides both have faced so far are Fulham and Wolves; Palace won at Craven Cottage much as Leeds did at Elland Road by the odd goal while Wolves beat both Palace and Leeds.

On the face of it, there is little between us.

Palace have beaten Southampton, lost to Everton and drew with Brighton at home while we’ve been excellent away with two wins and the narrow Anfield defeat. My guess is, if we keep Wilf Zaha quiet, we should pick up at least a point.

The excellent Chris Kavanagh is referee but beware, there’s been a red card in each of the previous three Palace games!

Prediction: Crystal Palace 2 Leeds United 2.

JACOB STARR

Leeds United travel to Crystal Palace tomorrow looking to bounce back quickly from a heavy 4-1 home defeat to Leicester City on Monday night.

A miserable first half gave the Whites too much work to do in the second half, against a side that have the potential to challenge for the title this season.

I would expect changes to the starting line-up at Selhurst Park, with Marcelo Bielsa admitting he made tactical mistakes against the Foxes.

Don’t be surprised to see Pascal Struijk come back in for Jamie Shackleton in midfield.

There will be no Rodrigo again though, with the forward testing positive for Covid-19. A big miss.

The two sides sit on the same number of points, with Wilfred Zaha being the standout performer for Roy Hodgson’s men in the opening seven matches.

The Ivorian has netted five times, including a brace at Old Trafford back in July.

Hopefully Patrick Bamford can replicate his form from Villa Park, rather than that of Monday night.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 1 Leeds United 1.

MIKE GILL

Leeds suffered their worst reverse against Leicester City at Elland Road on a filthy night.

Leicester are a very impressive side and adapted to the awful conditions better than the Whites. Had Pablo’s second- half effort gone in then it could have been a different story. Apart from this, the little magician was struggling and was replaced by Tyler Roberts who has been totally ineffective so far this season.

How we missed the mobility and creativity of Rodrigo.

All the knockers have been out in force ready to shoot Bielsa and his boys down.

Even our very own Dominic Matteo described the performance as sloppy and claimed that he knew exactly how Leicester were going to play, inferring that he had the answer. He went on to say that we can’t continue to be ‘gung-ho’ all the time. Can’t we? Ask our head coach.

I feel sure that Bielsa will come up with an answer as he always does.

Palace will be an interesting challenge and we should look forward to a nice open game.

Gung-ho chaps!

Prediction: Crystal Palace 1 Leeds United 3.

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