2025/26 Premier League MW8 Preview - Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth: Can the Eagles pick on the Cherries at Selhurst Park? October 16, 2025 by Marc Jerbs

The Premier League season ignites once more as Crystal Palace prepares to host AFC Bournemouth at Selhurst Park this Saturday, October 18, 2025, with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 PM BST. This Matchweek 8 fixture promises a compelling clash between two of the league's most upwardly mobile sides, both enjoying strong starts to the 2025–26 campaign and eyeing European qualification spots. The iconic Selhurst Park, with its electrifying atmosphere and a capacity crowd of 26,309, will provide the perfect backdrop for this tactical showdown in South London.

Current Standings and Recent Form

Both Crystal Palace and AFC Bournemouth enter this fixture in commendable league positions, reflecting their impressive early-season form.

Crystal Palace currently occupies 6th place in the Premier League table with 12 points from seven matches. Their record stands at three wins, three draws, and one loss, with a +4 goal difference (9 scored, 5 conceded). Under manager Oliver Glasner, the Eagles have demonstrated resilience and tactical evolution — bouncing back from a 2-1 defeat to Everton with a 2-0 Conference League win over Dynamo Kyiv and a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Liverpool. Palace remains unbeaten in their last nine Premier League home games (five wins, four draws), making Selhurst Park a fortress once again.

Meanwhile, AFC Bournemouth sits 4th in the standings with 14 points from seven matches, boasting a record of four wins, two draws, and one loss and a +3 goal difference (11 scored, 8 conceded). Andoni Iraola's men are unbeaten in their last six league games, producing results that highlight both defensive organization and attacking precision. Recent performances include a 3-1 win over Fulham, a 2-2 draw at Leeds, a 0-0 stalemate with Newcastle, and victories against Brighton and Tottenham.

Crystal Palace vs. Bournemouth Sports Bet Odds

The Eagles are the favorites to win the game. Here are our latest odds:

• The Eagles are favored by 1 goal, with odds for full-time result at 2.20.
• The Cherries are the underdogs by 1 goal, with odds for full-time result at 3.25.
• Draw has full-time result odds at 3.40.
• Total is set at 2.5 goals, with the Under at 1.90 and the Over at 1.90.

Key Players and Injury Report

Crystal Palace Key Players

The Eagles' attack is led by Ismaïla Sarr, who tops the club's scoring charts with three league goals and four in all competitions. His pace and creativity make him the focal point of Palace's counter-attacking play. Jean-Philippe Mateta provides a physical presence up front, while Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix anchor a strong defense — with Lacroix notably playing every minute of the season. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson continues his fine form, leading the league in goals prevented (2.9). Wing-backs Daniel Muñoz and Tyrick Mitchell add both defensive stability and offensive width.

Crystal Palace Injury Report

Palace faces several injury concerns. Chadi Riad (knee) is sidelined until late November, while Cheick Oumar Doucoure (knee) and Matheus Franca (adductor) remain unavailable. Eddie Nketiah (thigh), Daichi Kamada (knee), and Caleb Kporha (back) are also doubts. The summer departure of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal has left a creative gap that Glasner continues to fill with tactical flexibility.

AFC Bournemouth Key Players

For Bournemouth, Antoine Semenyo remains the talisman — with six goals already this season and involvement in 14 of Bournemouth's last 18 Premier League goals. Midfield leader Tyler Adams has started every league match, providing balance and intensity. Marcus Tavernier adds goal contributions from midfield, while Justin Kluivert injects flair in attack. Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic and defender Marcos Senesi ensure defensive consistency. Exciting youngster Ben Gannon-Doak has also begun to impress with energy and assists from the wing.

AFC Bournemouth Injury Report

The Cherries are managing several injuries of their own. Enes Unal remains out with a long-term ACL injury until late November. Adam Smith (hamstring) and Lewis Cook (knee) are doubtful, while Kluivert (calf), Luis Sinisterra (thigh), and Ryan Christie (undisclosed) face late fitness tests.

Tactical Approaches

Crystal Palace's Tactical Setup

Under Glasner, Palace has evolved into a compact, disciplined side focused on quick transitions and structured pressing. Operating primarily in a 3-4-2-1 formation, the Eagles rely on wing-backs Muñoz and Mitchell for width and overlapping runs. The defensive trio of Richards, Lacroix, and Guehi builds from the back, while midfielders Wharton and Kamada (when fit) link defense to attack. Glasner's pragmatic system prioritizes positional discipline and direct play, often resulting in low-scoring, tactically rich matches.

AFC Bournemouth's Tactical Setup

Iraola's Bournemouth embodies a high-energy, pressing style that prioritizes attacking momentum and coordinated pressure. The team has shifted from a 4-1-4-1 to a 4-2-3-1, enabling better midfield control and width through Scott and Truffert. With Adams and Scott anchoring midfield, Bournemouth excels in regaining possession high up the pitch. Their attacking quartet — led by Semenyo and supported by Tavernier, Brooks, and Evanilson — thrives on quick interchanges and aggressive pressing. Managing fatigue will be vital to sustaining their high-intensity approach throughout the match.

Head-to-Head History

Historically, matches between Crystal Palace and AFC Bournemouth have been close and cautious. Across 81 all-time meetings, Bournemouth holds a slight edge with 32 wins, compared to Palace's 28, alongside 21 draws.

In the Premier League era, Palace has won 6 of 18 meetings, Bournemouth 5, and 7 have ended level. Recent fixtures have leaned in Bournemouth's favor — with the Cherries winning 2-0 (Dec 2023) and 1-0 (Apr 2024) at Selhurst Park. The last Palace victory came in May 2023 (2-0). Remarkably, Palace has failed to score in their last four Premier League encounters with Bournemouth, a streak that underlines both teams' defensive strength and disciplined structures.

Final Thought

This fixture is finely balanced — pitting Glasner's organized Eagles against Iraola's fearless Cherries. Palace's home dominance and Bournemouth's impressive form suggest another tight, tactical duel where a single moment of brilliance could decide the outcome. Whether the Eagles can finally end their goalless run against the Cherries remains one of the weekend's most intriguing questions.

2025/26 Premier League Table

#	CLUB	W	D	L	PTS
1	Arsenal	5	1	1	16
2	Liverpool	5	0	2	15
3	Tottenham Hotspur	4	2	1	14
4	Bournemouth	4	2	1	14
5	Manchester City	4	1	2	13
6	Crystal Palace	3	3	1	12
7	Chelsea	3	2	2	11
8	Everton	3	2	2	11
9	Sunderland	3	2	2	11
10	Manchester United	3	1	3	10
11	Newcastle United	2	3	2	9
12	Brighton and Hove Albion	2	3	2	9
13	Aston Villa	2	3	2	9
14	Fulham	2	2	3	8
15	Leeds United	2	2	3	8
16	Brentford	2	1	4	7
17	Nottingham Forest	1	2	4	5
18	Burnley	1	1	5	4
19	West Ham United	1	1	4	4
20	Wolverhampton	0	2	5	2