Southampton vs Crystal Palace Prediction: Eze at it again at St Mary’s

Southampton's instant return to the EFL Championship is all but confirmed with the South Coast club 17 points behind Wolves (17th) with just nine Premier League games left to play. While survival is a pipe dream, a strong finish to the 2024/25 season could at least see them avoid the ignominy of ending in last place, although even that appears a difficult achievement with Ipswich Town and Leicester City eight points better off in the relegation zone.

On Wednesday (19:45), the Saints host FA Cup semi-finalists Crystal Palace, who are 12th and 30 points ahead of Ivan Juric's side ahead of their trip to St Mary's Stadium. Below are my Southampton vs Crystal Palace predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Southampton midfielder Will Smallbone has been ruled out of Wednesday evening's match against Crystal Palace. The 25-year-old, who missed his side's last league game, a 2-1 home defeat to Wolves, and the Republic of Ireland's Uefa Nations League double-header against Bulgaria last month, is suffering with a groin issue.

There were also fears over the fitness of defenders Jan Bednarek and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who picked up knocks on international duty with Poland and England U21s, respectively, but Juric has eased those concerns. He said: "Will is out and the others are all fit. Hopefully he will be better next week or at the end of this week. James Bree is also okay."

Football Odds

Paul Onuachu came off the bench against Wolves to score his third Premier League goal of the season, and the towering Nigerian centre-forward could get the nod from the off against Palace in midweek.

Flynn Downes, Adam Lallana and Albert Gronbaek are also potential starters if Juric decides to make more changes to his line-up.

After a nervy opening to the game against Fulham, Palace ended up strolling to a 3-0 success at Craven Cottage in their FA Cup quarter-final tie last Saturday. Eberechi Eze opened the scoring in the 34th minute, and fellow attacker Ismaila Sarr doubled the Eagles' lead four minutes later. Both players should start again on Wednesday behind Jean-Philippe Mateta, who made his return to action following a head injury.

However, Will Hughes, who missed Palace's victory in west London through illness, will serve the second game of a two-match ban for collecting 10 yellow cards in the Premier League this season.

Also watching on will be Joel Ward (calf), Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure (both knee), who are all still in the treatment room for Oliver Glasner's side.

Southampton vs Crystal Palace Odds

Southampton have lost their last six games - five in the Premier League - and have picked up just nine points from 87 available on their return to the top flight following last season's Championship play-off final heroics against Leeds United. Wednesday's hosts are, therefore, appropriately priced at 5/1, or a 16.7% chance, to claim just a third league win of the campaign against Palace, who are 4/7 (63.6%) to do the double over Saints (won 2-1 at Selhurst Park in December).

The draw is offered at 16/5 and both teams to score - which has landed in seven of Southampton's last nine Premier League games - at 4/5.

Palace's leading marksman in this season's Premier League, 12-goal French striker Mateta, heads the anytime goalscorer market at 21/20, followed by Eddie Nketiah (7/5), who came off the bench to net the Eagles' third goal against Fulham.

Onuachu is considered Saints' most likely anytime goalscorer at 13/5.

Anytime Goalscorer - Eberechi Eze (CRY) @ 2/1

The final week of March was a productive one for Eze, who came off the bench to score his first international goal for England in their 3-0 World Cup 2026 qualifier victory over Latvia before opening the scoring for Palace in their FA Cup quarter-final win five days later.

It's not been a fruitful season for the 26-year-old in front of goal in the Premier League as he's struck just twice in 24 top-flight contests, but he's more than doubled that tally in cup competitions, netting five times in seven Carabao Cup/FA Cup outings, and he should be full of confidence after scoring in back-to-back games for club and country.

Eze now goes in search of a first league goal since December 29, and who were Palace's opponents that day you might ask? Southampton.

The former Queens Park Rangers playmaker scored a stunning winner at Selhurst Park against Saints and bagged a brace on his last visit to St Mary's as Palace won 2-0 there in April 2023.

Southampton have shipped 16 goals across their last five matches and have conceded 70 for the season in the Premier League, so Eze should be licking his lips at the prospect of coming up against a bunch of beleaguered defenders on Wednesday.

Team With Most Booking Points - Southampton @ 9/10

Only Chelsea (79) have been shown more yellow cards in the Premier League this season than Southampton (75), who have also received three reds - only Arsenal (five) have seen more of their players dismissed.

Palace, meanwhile, only have one red card to their name, and their tally of 58 cautions puts them 13th in the yellow card table.

December's reverse fixture in south London saw Saints given three yellows and the Eagles two, one of which was flashed in the direction of Hughes, who has received at least three more than any of his teammates (Daniel Munoz and Marc Guehi are level on seven).

Hughes isn't available for his side's midweek trip to the South Coast which only strengthens my belief that Southampton will be the team to end the game with the most booking points.

Of course, it should be noted that 19-year-old Saints winger Tyler Dibling is a threat to this selection as he has been fouled, on average, 1.8 times per game in this season's Premier League. However, he was chopped down five times against Wolves last time out, and the Old Gold came away from St Mary's without a single card given to them.

Palace, meanwhile, have the likes of Eze and Sarr in their ranks, who are fouled, on average, 1.6 and 1.5 times per game, respectively.

The visitors don't need to be overly aggressive and risk any injuries or suspensions, while the hosts will surely want to give their supporters something to shout about and show a little aggression on Wednesday.

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