Off the back of a disappointing last-gasp draw against Wolves, the Eagles of SE25 once again return to Premier League action on home turf this weekend.
Travelling to South London are Norwich City; sitting just two spots clear of the relegation zone, one might naively believe the Canaries have lacked potency in recent games.
However, such an interpretation is merely superficial. Going beyond the league table after a mere six gameweeks, Norwich have consistently proven that they have the squad togetherness and the firepower to cause defensive headaches for Crystal Palace.
If nothing else, Norwich’s shock 3-2 victory over Manchester City stood as a fine testament to manager Daniel Farke’s ability to create a team focused on his philosophy in their play. Star striker Teemu Pukki has already scored a formidable six goals in six games this season, on par with Arsenal striker Aubameyang whilst surpassing the likes of Harry Kane, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
Whilst Pukki’s goal scoring record speaks for itself, he is by no means the only key Norwich player that should have Palace fans on edge. Buendia and Cantwell also stand out for their goal contributions and crucial assists, whilst goalkeeper Tim Krul has produced some fine moments thus far. Indeed, he is arguably the cornerstone of Norwich’s most recent success against City; some top-draw saves all but secured the win for Norwich after a tense few closing periods of play. However, the Dutchman will be unavailable for the trip to Selhurst Park, after picking up an injury.
With Palace joint-bottom along with Watford and Newcastle as the lowest-scoring sides in the division, Palace will need to step up their firepower off the back of a few lacklustre results in the league, against Spurs and Wolves.
Palace fans may be interested in knowing that all three home fixtures thus far have seen a red card thrust upon an opposition player. Whilst Palace have inconsistently capitalised on this advantage, it is by no means a crutch for the Eagles to rest their wings upon.
Palace will need to produce better play to overcome a hefty test from a slick, well-drilled Norwich side. Known for their early scoring, Palace will need to be on high alert against the Canaries.
Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their last 15 home meetings in the league against Norwich. Only time will tell whether such a run can be extended to 16 for the Eagles.
One thing is for certain; both teams will be hungry for renewed success, and the clash at Selhurst could prove to be an enthralling one!
