West Ham vs Crystal Palace Prediction: 18/1/2025

West Ham United is having a disastrous Premier League season, maintaining a poor 14th position in the table. The club has invested massively in new players: defenders Maximilian Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo, midfielders Lucas Paquetá and Edson Álvarez, and forwards Niclas Füllkrug and Luis Guilherme. All were supposed to help build up both the back and the front, but so far, it has proved impossible to find any consistency. This means that under Graham Potter, succeeding Julen Lopetegui, the playing style is coalescing, though fans have the wish that things soon start paying off.

Crystal Palace, led by Oliver Glasner, was putting in the spade work toward stability and performance building. Appointed in February 2024, Glasner has overseen the influx of new talent including defenders Marc Guéhi and Trevoh Chalobah, midfielders Daichi Kamada and Cheick Doucouré, and forwards Eddie Nketiah and Matheus França. The roster has been stricken by a mid-season bout with illness among many players, but this fact has not changed Glasner from his long-term aim of building a competitive unit. Fans should be optimistic; hopefully, the new faces and tactical changes from Glasner bring consistency to improved performances.

The coming clash of West Ham versus Crystal Palace is going to be an interesting one, for which both teams are coming off their contrasting recent forms. Crystal Palace has been resilient and disciplined at the back, recording victories against Stockport County and Southampton and draws against Chelsea and Bournemouth. Recent displays have been of a well-organized outfit able to graft out results, best exemplified through the impressive displays of Marc Guéhi and Eddie Nketiah.

Meanwhile, West Ham will also be seeking to expose the lapses in Crystal Palace’s setup as a way of redeeming their fortunes. Now with increased striking ability through players like Lucas Paquetá and Niclas Füllkrug, West Ham are optimistic of turning potential into goals. However, breaching Palace’s solid-looking rear guard and overcoming their tactical discipline may prove an uphill task. This could be one of those games where individual brilliance or a managerial masterclass proves decisive, as this match is expected to be tightly contested.

With these thoughts in mind, on January 18, 2025, Crystal Palace are likely to record a narrow win, a 2-1 win the most probable given recent form. This should be countered by at least a goal from West Ham, given the attacking strength and Niclas Füllkrug on display. However, Palace’s strategic approach with Oliver Glasner, along with the form of Eddie Nketiah and Matheus França gives them the edge. And Crystal Palace capitalizing on lapses in defense is perhaps the surest way in which they get to win this match, which is expected to be closely fought.

Prediction

It is just simple from the fact: their house this season hasn’t been that good, with two wins and five losses in the last 11 games of Premier League at home. But Crystal Palace’s form over the last five away has been promising, with four wins. That sets Palace up perfectly well.

Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace