18th Oct 2020 | Premier League
Eagle Eyes On M23 Derby
Hodgson has been working with a raft of injuries for months, but the tide seems to have turned and the transfer window boosted his options further.
Occasionally the bookies surprise me, and that’s the case at Selhurst Park where Crystal Palace are priced up as underdogs against their arch-rivals. They are a best price 19/10 with BetFair.
The reason this is a head-scratcher is because it’s hard to see what factor is clearly swinging towards Brighton. Yes, they’ll dominate possession, but Palace have more points on the board, finished higher last season and secured a win and a draw in those recent head-to-heads.
Perhaps most crucially, Roy Hodgson has something close to his best squad at his disposal for the first time since pre-lockdown. The return of Cahill, Tomkins, Van Aanholt, Schlupp and Batshuayi, all at the same time, is a huge boost for the hosts.
The Eagles may score fewer than most, but Brighton concede too many. In a tight contest, Palace’s suddenly strong bench could make all the difference.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 08:00 18th Oct, 2020 but subject to change