Crystal Palace

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Jean-Philippe Mateta ended the 2023-24 campaign with 13 goals in 13 league games under Oliver Glasner, but the Frenchman had failed to open his Premier League account for the new season going into Saturday's meeting with Leicester.

After giving his team hope with a close-range finish early in the second half, Mateta's stoppage-time penalty rescued a point for Palace after Conor Coady had brought down Ismaila Sarr.

While Glasner will be thrilled with the striker's contribution, he will have been less impressed with some of Palace's defending against Steve Cooper's team, who could and maybe should have been more ruthless in taking advantage.

Stephy Mavididi should have done better in the aftermath of Marc Guehi's failed clearance in the first half, but a similar error from Palace debutant Maxence Lacroix gifted the Foxes a second goal seconds after the restart.

Eddie Nketiah, who was also making his first appearance for the Eagles after joining from Arsenal on deadline day, was a lively presence and almost opened his account for the club with the score at 2-1, his low shot flying narrowly past the far post.

Mateta will grab the headlines on this occasion, but Nketiah's time will come.

Image source, Getty Images

Oliver Glasner spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Crystal Palace drew with Leicester: "It was a rocky road, giving the opposition too many situations, sometimes they don't have to work too hard for it.

"Mentally it was a very tough game but, coming back like this, big compliments to the players today.

"We know we have to improve some parts of our game, but everyone saw we can create good moments and chances against a deep team.

"Of course the heart was beating [for the late penalty] but Jean-Philippe [Mateta] is a great penalty shooter."

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Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week four, he takes on Femi Koleoso and Ife Ogunjobi from jazz band Ezra Collective, the 2023 Mercury Music Prize winners.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Crystal Palace have made a slow start to the season and, in fact, I would even call it disappointing, but their wait for a first win of the new campaign won't go on much longer.

They should be a little bit too streetwise for Leicester, and I am finding it difficult to back the Foxes at the moment. It looks to me like they have got a long battle ahead of them to stay up.

Femi's prediction: 3-1

Palace to win and Eberechi Eze to score.

Ife's prediction: 1-1

I feel like Leicester will get something here.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has praised new signing Eddie Nketiah for his "high intensity in training" and all-round work ethic.

The forward, who joined from Arsenal on a five-year-deal in August, could make his debut for the Eagles against Leicester on Saturday.

"I could see it in the first training [session]. He is very good technically and he has a great finish," Glasner said.

"We had a friendly game in the international break and he scored two goals. And what I'm really surprised at, in a positive way, is how hard he's working in training.

"He's always one of those guys who is running most in a training session, having the highest intensity in his training.

"This is also very, very positive for us and I'm happy that he's here. We believe in his quality, we believe in his mentality and his character, and he showed it.

"He's ready."

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier, we asked you who has made the most Premier League appearances for Crystal Palace.

The correct answer is long-serving defender Joel Ward, who has made 304 top-flight appearances for the Eagles.

Tyrese King
BBC Sport journalist

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Saturday's home Premier League game against Leicester (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Keeping key player Marc Guehi, who was the subject of several bids from Newcastle during the transfer window, was "crucial" for Palace.

• Adam Wharton is available for Saturday after having a "few days off" and spending the rest of last week training individually, but Chadi Riad will be out for "eight to 12 weeks" with a knee injury.

• On new singing Trevoh Chalobah: "Unfortunately, Trevoh got injured in his first training session with us, so he's also not available. It shouldn't be a long injury but he is also questionable for QPR."

• Glasner is "pleased" with the depth of his squad and the club's transfer business, adding: "Great players with great characters and a good spirit in the group."

• On Palace's slow start that has led to them picking up just one point from their first three league games: "We have to be critical. Today was the first training session where we had all players available because of injuries. I told them this is like a restart. When you have a Formula 1 car and you have to change one tyre... it's the same in our squad."

• He added: "We have had 30 to 40% changes in our squad and this means we have to build a new group and find a common sense of how we want to play on the pitch and how we want to treat each other."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Who has made the most Premier League appearances for Crystal Palace?

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 BST

Image source, CPFC

Trevoh Chalobah has stated Crystal Palace "can do great things" after joining the club on a season-long loan from Chelsea on the final day of the summer transfer window.

The defender gave his first interview to the club's website, external and said: "The first few days have been good around the boys and they've welcomed me.

"Ever since I came here, I’ve felt welcome. It's like a small group here, a small family and it's been amazing.”

The 25-year-old made 13 league appearances for Chelsea last term and is eager to prove his worth for Palace.

"I've been playing in the Premier League for three years now, I think I've got a lot of experience now," said Chalobah.

“For me, it's just getting as many games in as possible and helping the team. Obviously, Crystal Palace are a very good team in the Premier League, and I'm really excited for this season.

"I will give my all in this season, and I'm ready to fight for the badge, and hopefully we can do great things.”

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The departures of 28-year-old Joachim Andersen, Jordan Ayew, 33, and 31-year-old Sam Johnstone to Wolves meant Crystal Palace could put money back into the squad for younger players.

Chadi Riad is 21, new £18m centre back Maxence Lacroix is 24 and Eddie Nketiah is 25 years old. Meanwhile, Matheus Franca and Adam Wharton, both 20, were brought in last season and also helped bring down the average age of the squad.

While it was nearly impossible to replace Michael Olise's quality, Palace brought in three options to play the number 10 role that Glasner likes in his team with Ismaila Sarr, Daichi Kamada and Nketiah all capable.

The latter has been brought in as a ready-made goalscorer at top-flight level and, although he will play the role differently to Olise, it is hoped his goal threat and ability to run in behind will bring different qualities to the team.

Read more from Alex Howell on Palace's transfer window

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace's match against Leicester on Saturday will be a chance for supporters to possibly see a new-look side for the first time.

The Eagles were in danger of losing a number of key players in the summer after losing Michael Olise and Joachim Andersen, while a long-running transfer saga, involving Marc Guehi looked like it was going to be the end of his time at the club.

However, Palace stayed strong and kept Guehi while bringing in seven new players during the transfer window with four arriving on deadline day.

Alongside Daichi Kamada and Maxence Lacroix, players Palace signed to help Glasner get his ideas across quicker as he has worked with them before, the Eagles signed Eddie Nketiah.

The latter is arguably the most notable of their summer signings, as a player bought to perform right now and add a much-needed goal threat.

The 25-year-old has the ability to play as a striker alongside Jean Philippe-Mateta and also in the number-10 role Glasner likes to deploy. While Palace have not been able to directly replace Olise, Nketiah gives them an added goalscorer.

It will be interesting to see how Glasner incorporates all of the new signings.

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace have won nine Premier League meetings with Leicester City - more victories than they have managed over any other team in the competition.

Meanwhile, the Foxes have won just two of their past 16 Premier League games in London (D3 L11), conceding 40 goals during that run.

Manchester United are monitoring 26-year-old Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze and might make a move next summer. (Manchester Evening News), external

Liverpool might also move for Eze, if 32-year-old Egypt forward Mohamed Salah doesn't sign a new deal with the club. (Liverpool Echo), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Alex Pewter
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Hopefully, Oliver Glasner and Crystal Palace will be rested and refreshed after the international break. Cliche or not, the real work now begins.

Saturday's opponent, Leicester, is a familiar foe but a newly promoted one all the same, and they also have a single point from their first three games.

Even during periods when the team struggled last season, Palace were clinical against the promoted/soon-to-be-relegated sides. Thirteen points from those matches counted for 26.5% of their final point tally, underlining the importance of these fixtures.

While not ideal, the opening pair of losses likely spurred the club ownership into more transfer business than they may otherwise have avoided if results had swung the other way. Yet, neither of those opening games was a disaster from a coaching perspective, and the Chelsea draw did much to allay growing fears.

However, one theme from the opening games stood out: defensive frailty against counter attacks.

Even this tiny sample size of statistics matches the eye test. Having conceded the second-most fast break shots and two goals - joint worst with Everton - Palace turned strong periods in possession into defensive scrambles that undid their hard work.

On the flipside, in a stable defensive set-up, the team has managed to restrict their opponents to the third-fewest touches in their area compared to the rest of the division. This should reassure fans about the team's overall defensive capability.

The club will hope a further injection of pace into their backline will help improve this perceived weakness, and will enable the team to correct their course this season with a crucial home victory.

Find more from Alex Pewter at FYP podcast, external

The Premier League's summer transfer window saw clubs spend almost £2bn in all.

Data from Footballtransfers.com, external shows the biggest net spend by a club - that’s all the money spent minus all that came in from sales - was Brighton.

The Seagulls had a net spend of £153.5m.

On the flip side, the club who generated the biggest net summer profit on transfers was Manchester City, who made £115.8m, thanks in large part to the sale of Julian Alvarez.

Crystal Palace had a net profit of £17.4m. They were one of six clubs to generate a profit.

Newcastle United will try to sign Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi in a cut-price deal in January when he will have 18 months left on his contract, but the Eagles will hold out to get their valuation of the defender. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column