This Saturday, September 20, 2025, we’ve got a London derby in the Premier League: Crystal Palace is heading to West Ham United’s place, the London Stadium. The game’s at 3:00 PM. Both teams really need this game, though for different reasons, early in the season.
How the Season’s Going:
Opposite Directions west Ham is in a tough spot, down in 18th place with only three points from four games. They did beat Nottingham Forest, but they’ve let in a league-high 11 goals, so their defense is leaky. The fans are getting on manager Graham Potter’s back after that 3-0 loss at home to Tottenham. Word is the club might make a change, and they may be talking to Slaven Bilic, their old manager, and others.Crystal Palace, managed by Oliver Glasner, has been pretty tough, not losing in their last six trips to the London Stadium. They’re sitting in the middle of the table right now, mostly because their defense has been solid. But they’ve got some injuries to deal with, like Ismaila Sarr and Eddie Nketiah, which could hurt their attack.What’s the Plan?West Ham will probably go with a 4-2-3-1 setup, with James Ward-Prowse and Soungoutou Magassa in the middle. Lucas Paquetá will likely be the one making plays in the attacking midfield, and Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville will be out wide, trying to use their speed. Tomas Souček is suspended, so they’ll have to shuffle things around in midfield.
Crystal Palace might go with a 4-3-3, focusing on playing good D and hitting West Ham on the counter. Marc Guéhi and Joachim Andersen in central defense will have to shut down West Ham’s attack. Luka Milivojević in midfield could be key to controlling the game and protecting the defense. Up front, Jordan Ayew’s speed and Michael Olise’s creativity will be important for taking advantage of West Ham’s weak defense.Key Battles midfield Matchup: James Ward-Prowse vs. Luka Milivojević will be a big one. Ward-Prowse is great at set pieces and passing, while Milivojević is a solid defender and leader. Whoever controls the middle of the field will have an advantage.Defense vs. Attack: Crystal Palace’s strong D will be tested by West Ham’s fast attack, especially from Bowen and Summerville. How Palace handles those guys will be key.
Goalies: Lukasz Fabiański and Vicente Guaita are both good keepers. They could be the difference, since both teams should get chances to score.History and Form Last time they played, in January 2025, Crystal Palace won 2-0 at the London Stadium. Palace has been tough for West Ham to beat, not losing in their last six games in East London.West Ham’s Last Games: L L W L Crystal Palace’s Last Games: D D W D D W .Those results show how consistent Palace has been and how much West Ham has struggled, especially at home.
Prediction
West Ham’s defense is shaky, and Palace has been playing well, so a draw seems likely. Both teams will probably play it safe to avoid a loss. I’m going with a 1-1 draw, with both teams getting a point in this London derby.
