Aston Villa and Crystal Palace played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Villa Park on Saturday as the game swung back and forth in the swirling win and rain.
Palace twice took the lead through Ismaila Sarr and Justin Devenny, but Ollie Watkins and Ross Barkley equalized for Villa on each occasion to grab a deserved point.
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are without a win in six games in all competitions and have now picked up just two points from their last four Premier League games as they sit on 19 points and will be frustrated with their defending against Palace.
Oliver Glasner will be happy enough with this display as Palace were missing Eze, Wharton and Nketiah and now have eight points but remain in the relegation zone.
Worrying defending continues as Villa should return to counters
Aston Villa’s dramatic rise under Unai Emery has been built on a solid defensive foundation, organization and high-pressing to unsettle opponents. The problem is, opponents now know how to counteract most of those tactics. Aston Villa’s defensive high-line was ripped apart on multiple occasions by counter-attacking kings Crystal Palace on Saturday and Villa could have no complaints had they lost this game. Yes, they’re missing Konsa, Kamara and Onana through injury in midfield and defense and the full back duo of Cash and Digne were rested with one eye on Juventus in midweek, but rather than personnel it’s Villa’s system which needs a tweak. They press so high up the pitch but right now they lack energy and cohesion and Emery should return to a more counter-attacking approach which saw Villa excel during his initial six months in charge. Emery often tweaks his tactics within his general playing philosophy and he knows Villa just can’t be this open on the counter defensively. They’ve conceded eight goals in their last three games and if they want to qualify for the Champions League again they have to be more compact at the back.
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace player ratings (via FotMob.com)
What’s next?
Aston Villa host Juventus in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday before heading to Chelsea next Sunday. Crystal Palace host Newcastle next Saturday.
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace final score: 2-2
Watkins 36', Barkley 77'; Sarr 4', Devenny 45'
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace live updates!
Full time: Aston Villa 2-2 Crystal Palace
A really entertaining game which showcased why both teams are out of form and why both could surprise plenty of the big boys this season. There were chances galore and this could have ended up 5-5. Wonderful drama but high-quality defending was not plentiful.
Schlupp hits the post!
Palace should be ahead. Martinez with a fine save to push Schlupp’s shot onto the post and then Munoz fires just over from the rebound. Wow. What a final 10 minutes plus stoppage time we have at Villa Park!
Sarr should make it 3-2 to Palace straight from the kick off
Blimey. Less than 60 seconds after Villa made it 2-2, Palace should be ahead. A long ball forward is flicked on and it drops to Sarr. He has nobody around him in the box but snatches at his volley and it bounces straight to Martinez. Big, big chance for Palace and Sarr knows it.
Villa deservedly level! - Aston Villa 2-2 Crystal Palace
The corner is whipped in and Ross Barkley is at the near post and flicks home a header. Villa level and have 15 minutes to find a winner.
Chalobah deflects Watkins’ shot wide
Villa pushing hard now and Watkins cuts inside but his low shot to the near post is deflected wide by Chalobah. Good recovery from the Palace center back.
Watkins bullied by Lacroix
Ollie Watkins is in again but Maxence Lacroix is all over him, once again, and just nudges the England striker off the ball. Villa want a penalty but that isn’t a pen. Palace are digging deep.
Sarr scythed down just outside the box
Once again Ismaila Sarr races clear and Ian Maatsen brings him down. The ref played advantage but Munoz put his shot wide, then the ref pulls it back for a free kick. Maatsen’s challenge was just outside the box. No penalty kick. Devenny’s free kick is deflected wide and Palace’s corner comes to nothing.
Mateta’s header is saved
Palace break again and a cross from Mitchell on the left finds Mateta. His header is on target but Martinez saves.
Villa come flying out of the traps
A cross into the box is almost finished by two Villa players as Palace somehow escape. Then Watkins is clean through on goal but he takes a second too long and Lacroix makes a fine last-ditch tackle. Moments later Watkins’ shot deflects wide. It is all Villa.
Half time: Aston Villa 1-2 Crystal Palace
Brilliant drama in the opening 45. Sarr put Palace ahead on the counter but Watkins made it 1-1 as Villa pushed to go ahead. However, the game swung back in Palace’s favor just before the break. Henderson saved Tielemans’ penalty kick and then Palace went up the other end and regained the lead as youngster Justin Devenny scored his first goal for the club. Great second half coming up.
Palace on the counter again as Devenny scores! - Aston Villa 1-2 Crystal Palace
Just 52 seconds after Villa missed a penalty kick, Crystal Palace go up the other end and take the lead! Another Palace counter sees Sarr break free and his pass picks out youngster Justin Devenny at the back post and he finishes calmly to put the Eagles ahead. Drama!
Henderson saves Tielemans’ penalty kick!
What drama at Villa Park just before half time. Tielemans with a pretty poor penalty kick as Dean Henderson goes the right way and pushes it away. We are still level.
WHAT A MINUTE OF FOOTBALL. 🤯
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 23, 2024
Crystal Palace save a penalty at one end, then go back the other way and score to take the lead!
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VAR asks referee to monitor, and a penalty is given!
Referee Tim Robinson is asked to go to the monitor by VAR and he gives a penalty kick for a foul by Will Hughes on Leon Bailey. He clearly steps on the Achilles of Bailey and doesn’t get the ball. Palace’s players aren’t happy with it.
Leon Bailey smashes the post!
Villa well on top before half time and Leon Bailey smashes a shot at goal from a tight angle but it hits the post and flies out. He did have Watkins in the middle but Bailey almost pulled off the spectacular there.
Watkins finishes calmly - Aston Villa 1-1 Crystal Palace
John McGinn with a lovely through ball to Watkins, who times his run to perfection and rounds Henderson before slotting home. Watkins celebrates and VAR checks for a possible offside, but the goal stands. Villa are level and that is a fair reflection of this first half.
Sarr is offside as Mateta misses a sitter
Okay, so Sarr is offside but is played clean through and play continues. He then decides to tee up Mateta, who is caught out by that decision, and the ball is under his feet and he puts it over the bar with Martinez out of his goal. Poor decision from Sarr, but he was offside anyway. But another example of Palace catching Villa out on the counter.
Henderson denies Watkins
Dean Henderson gets down well to deny Watkins. Bailey finds Watkins with a beautiful ball on the break. The England international cuts inside and drills a find effort towards goal but Henderson stretches and just gets a hand to it and claws it in. Good stop.
Chances at both ends!
A cross into the box just evades Watkins at the back post as he was lurking to head home. At the other end Palace counter again. Hughes finds Sarr with Mateta on his left too, but Sarr’s shot is straight at Martinez.
Watkins heads over
A corner is played back and a cross is clipped in. Watkins heads over the bar with other Villa players queuing up behind him to head home. Big chance for Villa.
Dream start for Palace as Sarr slots home - Aston Villa 0-1 Crystal Palace
See, I told you Palace would get chances on the counter! The ball finds Mateta on the halfway line and he turns and plays a great ball through to Sarr who has a lot to do. He charges in on goal and takes his time before clipping it past Martinez. Palace take a shock lead!
Villa pressing high to start
We are underway at Villa Park and Unai Emery’s Villa are pressing high up the pitch, as they like to do, from the start. Palace could get some chances on the counter today but Villa will definitely dominate possession.
How to watch Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday (November 23)
Venue: Villa Park — Birmingham
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Aston Villa lineup
Martinez; Bogarde, Carlos, Torres, Maatsen; Bailey, Barkley, Tielemans, McGinn; Rogers; Watkins
Crystal Palace lineup
Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Doucoure, Devenny, Mitchell; Mateta, Sarr
Aston Villa team news, focus
A few injuries have started to crop up again for Villa, especially in defense. That could explain their recent dip in form, while the likes of Barkley, Maatsen and Torres getting back up to speed would be a big boost.
OUT: Jacob Ramsey (thigh), Amadou Onana (foot), Boubacar Kamara (undisclosed), Ezri Konsa (hip)
Crystal Palace team news, focus
Palace have some big injury and suspension problems for this game. Wharton is out in midfield and Lerma is only fit enough for the bench, while Kamada being suspended further adds to their woes in central areas. They’re also without Eze and Nketiah in attack so Mateta will lead the line and Sarr will likely start in support of him.
OUT: Adam Wharton (groin), Chadi Riad (knee), Rob Holding (undisclosed), Matheus Franca (chest/abdominal), Daichi Kamada (suspension), Eberechi Eze (thigh), Eddie Nketiah (hamstring).
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace prediction
Villa will be upset with their form before the break and you can expect a reaction. McGinn and Watkins will cause chaos and drive them to a much-needed win. Aston Villa 3-1 Crystal Palace.
