Like David Cameron and Pringles, we just can't get enough of the Premier League. One gameweek just isn't enough - and we'd secretly watch it on a plane if needed. What does the hustle and bustle of English football throw up today then? I'm glad you asked because we'll be bringing you LIVE text commentary as Crystal Palace host Aston Villa at Selhurst Park. I'm Shane and I'll be bringing you all of the action as both sides look to bounce back from defeats against bigger boys last time out.
Before we have a look at the team news, let's remind ourselves how Palace and Villa got on last week, shall we? You don't have much of a choice to be fair.
So, Palace, who beat Norwich City 3-1 away on the first day of the season, welcomed Arsenal here last Sunday, where they went down 2-1 in slightly unfortunate circumstances. Joel Ward cancelled out Olivier Giroud's opener, before Damien Delaney went and stuck it into his own net early in the second half. It was a bigger gaffe than Donald Trump and Bill Gates's house, but there was an element of bad luck.
And Villa also succumbed to a narrow defeat against a top-four side, as Adnan Januzaj struck the only goal as Manchester United left Villa Park with a 1-0 victory last Friday - yes FRIDAY! I know, right. I didn't see the game, but apparently the Villans could've emerged with a point on another day. Another big test for them today.
Of course, Palace couldn't be considered one of the big boys of English football just yet, but they've been superb at Selhurst Park since Alan Pardew took over and Tim Sherwood's side simply have to play very, very well in order to leave with anything.
Incidentally, Pardew coming up against Sherwood seems like a managerial match-up that could quite easily come to blows. Two very passionate coaches with a penchant for an occasional fist-pump in the direction of their opposite number. Who's your money on if it does?
Team news? Anyone? Okay, but before we get it out (the team news that is) let's see what the boys down at Sports Mole HQ have had to say on this one. See you in a minute.
Right, we'll have to start with Palace and it looks like Spurs target Yannick Bolasie has been omitted from the matchday squad. Make of that what you will. Alan Pardew makes two changes in total from the defeat to Arsenal, with Bakary Sako replacing Bolasie for his debut, while Glen Murray spearheads the attack instead of Connor Wickham.
On to the Villans now and Mr Sherwood makes three changes from the defeat at home to United. Jack Grealish comes back into the first XI following a turbulent few months in which he definitely made headlines for the wrong reasons. He replaces Jordan Veretout, while Carlos Sanchez joins him in midfield at the expense of Scott Sinclair. Finally, Jordan Ayew drops out of attack for Rudy Gestede, who partners Gabby Agbonlahor up top. That's your lot!
I don't want to alarm you, but these sides didn't exactly play out a couple of crackers last season. This fixture at Selhurst Park last year was settled by a Christian Benteke goal as Paul Lambert's Villa beat Neil Warnock's Palace. What a difference a year makes. Did Palace have their revenge at Villa Park? Actually, no. It was a 0-0 draw. Let's hope this one throws up something a little more entertaining.
DID YOU KNOW? That victory at Selhurst Park was Villa's only win away to Palace in the last 35 years! Sadly, the last four meetings in all competitions have produced just three goals. Three. With a capital T. Let's ignore those silly stats because the power of positive thinking can do wonders. Let's will a 5-5 draw using only our minds.
PREDICTION! Five minutes from kickoff, which means it's time to get a pre-match prediction wrong. And I'm on a 2-0 Palace win this afternoon. They've got enough quality going forward to hurt Villa today and it should be a relatively comfortable win. That's your cue to leggit down the bookies and put the mortgage on a 3-1 Villa victory.
Likewise, Luke Carey also fancies a 2-1 win. So myself, Luke and Alvin all on a home victory this afternoon, folks. Unlucky Villa. Let's not write them off yet.
Incidentally, United's visit of Newcastle at Old Trafford has just finished 0-0...
Prediction:
- United win comfortably
- Rooney will score
- At FT, United fans will again be comparing Memphis to Ronaldo
— 1886 (@1886_blog) August 22, 2015
Here come the players, as they're welcomed on to the field by the Palace cheerleaders. 'Glad all Over' echoes around the Selhurst Park. Beautiful day. Beautiful atmosphere. Let's go.
Good defending by Damien Delaney, as Gestede goes through on goal at an angle, but the Palace centre-back throws himself in the line of fire, and the block ricochets off the Frenchman and out for a goal kick. Good start by Villa.
The Gestede vs. Delaney battle goes on, as they contest a header and Delaney comes off the worst with what was effectively a headbutt. But he's back up. That could be an interesting duel this afternoon.
There's definitely goals in this. It has that feel to it I think. Decent first eight minutes or so, and Gestede has just attempted an overhead, but he completely missed the ball.
Bakary Sako is enduring a mixed debut thus far. Playing at number 10, the debutant is struggling to have much of an influence in this first 13 minutes or so. He looks nervy.
CHANCE! Oh no it could, and certainly should, be 1-0 to Villa, as Delaney's scuffed clearance is pounced on by Westwood, who plays in Agbonlahor but he fluffs his one-on-one with McCarthy. Really poor attempt that.
BOOKING: Joel Ward is booked for scything down Jack Grealish, but the referee plays advantage for the challenge and Amavi whips a cross into the box and it's headed out for a corner, which comes to nothing. They could've done with the free kick instead.
SHOT! Good effort from Sanchez, who nicks the ball off Cabaye, before dropping the shoulder and launching an effort at goal, but it flies narrowly over the bar.
It has to be said that Villa are the better team in this half. We're midway through the half and Sherwood will fancy his chances of seeing his side earn a half-time lead.
SHOT! Villa continue to threaten as Gueye fires wide of McCarthy's goal in an effort that was never troubling Palace. There's a drinks break now which, given the 30 degree heat, is understandable.
Good goalkeeping from Alex McCarthy as he plucks a Jack Grealish corner out of the sky despite pressure from Gestede. That drinks break has taken the sting out of this one somewhat.
Superb through ball by Grealish for Agbonlahor, who gallops at goal from the left-hand flank, but his touch is shocking and it rolls into the arms of McCarthy. He's not covering himself in much glory this afternoon, Agonlahor.
Oh lord it's a poor delivery from Cabaye, whose free kick doesn't even beat the first man. So bad from the Frenchman, who has looked a little off today.
Four minutes until the break and it looks like we're heading into the interval goalless. Mixed first half. Villa had the best chance through Agbonlahor, but he fluffed his lines.
Well, that was useless. Agbonlahor had the best chance but he wasted it following a one-on-one. Both these sides put the 'stale' in stalemate it has to be said.
RESTART! Welcome back and there's two subs to tell you about. Jordan Mutch and Dwight Gayle come on to replace Wilfried Zaha and Glen Murray. No surprise there.
CHANCE! Where was this Palace in the first half? Mutch plays a brilliant first-time cross as Sako looked certain to tap home at the far post, but Richards slid to keep him out. Fine tackle.
This kinda sums up Cabaye's afternoon. His free kick bounces off the wall and ricochets out for a corner, with Cabaye's delivery then snapped up by Guzan.
Aston Villa fans celebrating now, and it took a long, long time for that to be chalked off. Dwight Gayle's curling effort is deflected home by McArthur, who was offside. That's cruel because it was only chalked off about a minute after the celebrations! But it looked the right decision.
CHANCE! Palace well on top as they search for a legitimate goal, and it should've come here when Sako side-footed Joel Ward's cutback just wide of Guzan's goal. Should've scored though - or at least hit the target.
Another drinks break. It's 30 degrees folks, so we can't begrudge them a bit of hydration. The problem is that the last time we had one of these, it took the tempo out of the game completely.
This time the needle on 'Glad All Over' need not abruptly be lifted as Dann out-climbs Clark to thump home a fierce header. What a brilliant goal that is. Huge goal for the hosts
Where did this come from? I'll tell you: Adama Traore! What a run from the ex-Barcelona starlet, who ghosts pasts two players on the right flank but his low cross is deflected home by Souare. What a first impression to make in English football on his debut.
Oh my word Jordan Amavi might just get beaten up by Tim Sherwood after this. He inexplicably tries to run the ball out of defence, before getting his pocket and Sako, from a tight angle, drills a left-footed past into the corner of the net past Guzan for what looks like the winner.