MX23RW : Friday, January 31 06:00:18| >> :600:126006:126006:
[monks data]
Crystal Palace logo
Premier League | Gameweek 1
Sep 12, 2020 at 3pm UK
Selhurst Park
Southampton logo

Crystal Palace
1 - 0
Southampton

Zaha (13')
Schlupp (41'), McCarthy (58')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Roy Hodgson confident of greater scoring threat from Crystal Palace this season

Roy Hodgson confident of greater scoring threat from Crystal Palace this season
© Reuters
The Eagles still have injury problems, but more options in attack for the visit of Southampton.

Roy Hodgson is confident Crystal Palace will have more firepower this season after the summer additions of Michy Batshuayi and Ebere Eze.

The Eagles were the second lowest Premier League scorers in the 2019-20 campaign with 31 goals, but still managed to finish 14th and nine points above the relegation zone.

After signing Eze from QPR for a reported £16million fee last month, Palace added Chelsea forward Batshuayi on loan this week and the duo will be part of the squad for Saturday's opener at home to Southampton.

Even though Christian Benteke and Connor Wickham are absent, Hodgson will be able to select his two new recruits along with Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha, who were the club's top goalscorers last season with nine and four goals respectively.

"We have signed two players who are more than skilful enough to score goals for us and both have proven goalscoring records," the Palace manager said.

"We are very happy with that and still hoping as well people like Christian Benteke and Connor Wickham can step up to the plate and add some more goals.

"I definitely feel we are looking stronger this season up front than we were at times last season when we didn't have the competition for places."

While Eze is in contention for his debut and Batshuayi, who spent five months on loan at Selhurst Park in 2019, is expected to start, the south Londoners still have issues.

Centre-backs Gary Cahill, James Tomkins and Mamadou Sakho missed the end of last season with hamstring injuries and Patrick Van Aanholt also had surgery on his shoulder during the summer.

The foursome remain unavailable despite Sakho returning to training on Friday and Palace also have Nathan Ferguson (knee), Benteke (foot) and Wickham (unspecified) on the treatment table.

Hodgson added: "In particular these first two or three weeks could be tough because we can't afford to pick up any more injuries."

Given Palace's fitness concerns, Eze could be protected and may have to settle for a spot on the bench against Southampton after he suffered a groin injury in a 45-minute cameo against Charlton on August 29.

That is the only appearance the playmaker has made since he signed from QPR, but his team-mates are well aware of his capabilities after he returned to training this week.

"I don't think it is difficult to move up the level if you have the ability and certainly Ebere Eze has the ability and he has the personality. I have no fears about him stepping up," Hodgson said.

"We are convinced we have signed the right player in terms of his ability, personality and character.

"He has settled in very well. We were disappointed to lose him after that first 45 minutes he had, but we would have lost him anyway as he was picked to go away with England's Under-21s.

"It has been nice to have him with us for the bulk of this week and let him show all the other players what a talent he is."

ID:413926: cacheID:413926:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4523:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa pictured on July 4, 2020
Read Next:
Premier League: Main talking points ahead of opening gameweek
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool22165154213353
2Arsenal23138244212347
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2313553327644
4Manchester CityMan City23125647301741
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle23125641271441
6Chelsea23117545301540
7Bournemouth23117541261540
8Aston Villa2310763435-137
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2381053531434
10Fulham238963431333
11Brentford2394104240231
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd2385102832-429
13Crystal Palace236982630-427
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham2376102844-1627
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs2373134637924
16Everton225891928-923
17Leicester CityLeicester2345142549-2417
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2344153252-2016
19Ipswich TownIpswich2337132147-2616
20Southampton2313191653-376


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!