Marc Guehi scored a fantastic feel-good goal on Sunday, but will the second goal in Crystal Palace’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park be a goodbye gift to the club?
MORE — Guehi speaks after Palace’s win over Villa
Guehi’s been linked with a move to Liverpool ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline, and he joined Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta on the score sheet as Palace collected their first win to complete an unbeaten first three matches of the season.
WATCH — Aston Villa v Crystal Palace full match replay
Villa’s vibes are at the other end of the spectrum, as Unai Emery’s men slip to a draw and two losses heading into the international break. The Villans didn’t expect to be in the bottom three at any point this season, and sit 19th after Week 3.
Palace are up in eighth with their five points.
Villa’s malaise evident, contrasted by Palace
Unai Emery’s team is not in a good place, winless through three matches and wondering what’s ahead as their iconic goalkeeper was removed from the 18 ahead of Transfer Deadline Day. The side that’s often captured the imaginations of Premier League fans often the past few seasons looks devoid of energy as Emiliano Martinez could join Jacob Ramsey, Jhon Duran, and Douglas Luiz as big names to skate out the door at Villa Park over the past few seasons. The Villans were second-best for much of game as Palace fought harder, yard-for-yard.
Sports gave us a classic contrast on the same pitch Sunday, where the Eagles continue to show a special chemistry under Oliver Glasner. Yes, Eberechi Eze left and Marc Guehi may follow him out the door. But both Palace stars played for (or will have played for) the shirt until the very final minute of their time with the Eagles. Now those are special examples but they feel pertinent at the moment in a league where Alexander Isak and Yoane Wissa issue public diatribes about their status at their clubs. And if Guehi is leaving, the way his goal was celebrated with and by his teammates say something else about his character. The comparison may not be perfect, but there has to be a reason that Villa and Palace, with so many similarities in terms of their vibe upticks in recent years, looked so very different under the lights on the same night.
What’s next?
Villa head to Everton on Saturday, Sept. 13 for a 10am ET kickoff, the same time Palace kick off at home to Sunderland.
How to watch Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 2pm ET Sunday
Venue: Villa Park — Aston, Birmingham
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace final score: 0-3
Jean-Philippe Mateta pen 21', Marc Guehi 68', Ismaila Sarr 78'
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace updates as they happened
Full time — Aston Villa 0-3 Crystal Palace
A deserved win for Palace which will leave the hosts fuming and/or scratching their heads.
Monday will be big for both clubs, as both hope their incoming transfer activity will not be quiet.
Ismaila Sarr injury
This is the second time in a few minutes that Sarr is down with what appears to be an upper leg injury.
It’s the 90th minute, and his day will be done just a bit early. It’s a significant limp Sarr’s wearing on his way off the pitch.
Ismaila Sarr goal — Aston Villa 0-3 Crystal Palace
A long throw is headed across goal by Maxence Lacroix, and Ismaila Sarr heads home.
Vibes are vivacious for the visitors.
Palace introduce Pino
The second half had been increasingly in favor of Aston Villa, and Oliver Glasner’s pushing the Pino button.
Big new signing Yeremy Pino will make his Palace debut in place of Hughes, who is on yellow.
Marc Guehi goal — Aston Villa 0-2 Crystal Palace
What a moment.
Guehi intercepts a Villa pass and leads a rush, staying in the play as it heads to the left corner.
Villa’s half-clearances comes to him on the right top corner of the 18, and he unloads a pearler into the far upper 90.
His celebration soaks up the Palace praise, and it may be his goodbye. Out-of-contract next summer, Liverpool are expected to bid big to buy him on Monday.
Henderson again!
Morgan Rogers gets a feed from Emi Buendia and snaps a shot that turns off the leg of Chris Richards, and Dean Henderson has to be quick to his right to palm the ball away from its path inside his near post.
Palace still ahead as we near the hour mark.
Adam Wharton injury
The young Palace midfielder is now a doubt for England duty, as he appeared to injure his groin and will exit this match in the 56th minute.
Jefferson Lerma will take his place. Fellow midfielder Will Hughes is on a yellow card, too.
Halftime — Aston Villa 0-1 Crystal Palace
Villa’s disappointing start to the season continues with a deserved-enough first-half deficit.
Villa have kept 55% possession but have given up two big chances and one became a penalty that Mateta turned into a goal.
The front four are struggling against Palace’s back line and the duo of Adam Wharton and Will Hughes in the middle.
Henderson(‘s face) denies Watkins
Ollie Watkins runs onto a long ball and is 1v1 with Dean Henderson.
The damage is limited to a corner as Henderson’s face takes the brunt of Watkins stabbed shot, and Chris Richards heads the rebound beyond the end line.
Villa keeping the ball, being kept from danger
Palace have produced nearly two expected goals despite Villa holding 65% possession.
Villa nearly answer
Ollie Watkins slides it to Evann Guessand on the left side of the box, and the Ivorian slams a shot into the palms of Dean Henderson.
Jean-Philippe Mateta penalty goal — Aston Villa 0-1 Crystal Palace
Mateta sends Bizot the wrong way, but is booked for his celebration, as he kicked the corner flag at Villa Park.
Crystal Palace penalty
Mateta sends Daichi Kamada into the 18, where he’s quickly face-to-face with Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot.
Kamada skips over the splayed leg of Bizot, who extends that peg to knock the forward to the ground.
That’s a straight-forward penalty.
Emiliano Martinez not in the side
Wow, rumors of a possible Emiliano Martinez transfer are not going away with this news.
Villa’s star goalkeeper is neither starting nor amongst the subs amidst reports of interest from Manchester United.
Aston Villa lineup
Bizot, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen, McGinn, Tielemans, Malen, Guessand, Rogers, Watkins
Crystal Palace lineup
Henderson, Munoz, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Wharton, Hughes, Sarr, Kamada, Mateta
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace preview
The Eagles have just unveiled exciting Villarreal attacker Yeremy Pino as a signing in the wake of Eberechi Eze’s departure to Arsenal, and there’s hope that manager Oliver Glasner has the magic touch to keep Palace rolling; They won the Community Shield over Liverpool to start the season and have since drawn Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and split points with Nottingham Forest at home.
That doesn’t get any easier with Aston Villa, even if Unai Emery’s men are struggling to start the season. The Villans were second best in a home draw with Alexander Isak-less Newcastle in Week 1, then slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Brentford last weekend.
Aston Villa team news, focus
OUT: Andres Garcia (knock) | QUESTIONABLE: Boubacar Kamara (hamstring), Ross Barkley (knock)
Crystal Palace team news, focus
OUT: Odsonne Edouard (achilles), Cheick Doucoure (knee), Chadi Riad (knee), Matheus Franca (adductor), Eddie Nketiah (thigh), Caleb Kporha (back) | QUESTIONABLE: Will Hughes (undisclosed
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace prediction
Villa have to find form at some point, right? And Palace had to deal with a midweek trip to Norway in which their regulars all performed in a Conference League second leg with Fredrikstad. Those factors seem plenty for a possible edge in the hosts’ direction. Aston Villa 2-1 Crystal Palace.
