Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace: Preview, predictions and lineups | OneFootball

Fifth-place Bournemouth have plenty to cheer about as they enjoy the festivities, and they have a great chance of extending their unbeaten run against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.

The Cherries claimed their second 3-0 victory at Old Trafford in the space of little over a year on Sunday as Andoni Iraola's side climbed above champions Manchester City in the Premier League table. Bournemouth have been one of the standout sides of 2024 and they harbour legitimate aspirations of securing their first-ever taste of European football. They head into Thursday's game having won four of their previous five games.

Palace had enjoyed an impressive unbeaten run of their own before they faced up against Arsenal twice last week. The Gunners first dumped them out of the Carabao Cup before they were thumped 5-1 at Selhurst Park on Saturday. The scoreline may have flattered the visitors, though, with Palace troubling Mikel Arteta's side like few teams have this term.

The Eagles' winter upsurge means they're 16th and out of the drop zone, but their buffer on 18th-place Wolves is just four points.

Here is 90min's guide to this Boxing Day Premier League clash.

Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace H2H Record (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

How to watch Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace on TV - UK and US

Bournemouth team news

Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth are fifth in the Premier League table / Visionhaus/GettyImages

The Cherries' injury list hasn't changed since their triumph at Old Trafford, with Andoni Iraola's side securing hugely impressive results without a couple of key individuals.

Bournemouth are currently operating without starting centre-back Marcos Senesi due to a muscle injury and Marcus Tavernier due to a hamstring problem. Julian Araujo, Alex Scott and Luis Sinisterra are also sidelined.

Evanilson shook off a knock to start on Sunday and should be fine to feature on Boxing Day. Expect Lewis Cook to come back into Iraola's midfield and replace Tyler Adams.

Bournemouth predicted lineup vs Crystal Palace

Bournemouth predicted lineup vs Palace (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara; Evanilson.

Crystal Palace team news

Eberechi Eze missed Saturday's defeat due to a foot injury / Alex Pantling/GettyImages

Eberechi Eze missed the defeat to Arsenal at the weekend due to a foot injury and is a doubt for Thursday's trip to the south coast. The Palace playmaker has struggled to find his very best form this term but his absence on Boxing Day would be a big blow.

Daichi Kamada attempted to fill Eze's void at the weekend, and the Japanese international will likely continue in the side if the England international isn't fit to feature.

The visitors are still without Adam Wharton due to a groin injury. Summer signing Chadi Riad is closing in on a return from a knee injury but won't make his comeback until 2025. Matheus Franca is nursing a broken rib.

Daniel Munoz is eligible to return from suspension.

Palace predicted lineup vs Bournemouth (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Kamada; Mateta.

Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace score prediction

Bournemouth enter the contest in fine spirits, but a banana skin awaits them on Boxing Day. This will be viewed as a fixture the hosts should win, but Palace have been impressive as of late and you shouldn't read too much into Saturday's 5-1 defeat. That game was much closer than the scoreline suggests.

Eze's absence is a blow, but the Englishman has struggled for form this term and Oliver Glasner has undoubtedly ensured that Palace are a tricky proposition again. Bournemouth's directness is capable of causing any Premier League outfit issues, but the hosts may succumb to hints of complacency on Boxing Day.

After the highs of another Old Trafford pounding, Bournemouth could be made to work hard by their visitors on Thursday.