The opening weekend of the Premier League sees Crystal Palace host newly promoted Huddersfield Town. It will be the Terriers first bout in top flight football since 1972, where their last game was coincidentally also against Crystal Palace.
Understandably, Huddersfield manager David Wagner has claimed his side to be “underdogs” in the coming season. This isn’t surprising given the recruitment of some of the strongest sides in the competition, with the likes of Manchester United making a number of marquee signings over the summer. Despite this insists his side is here to make an impression.
The loss of Mark Hudson from a player to coach role within the Huddersfield set up will be a significant loss for the Terriers on the field, however undoubtedly he will add a wealth of experience to the coaching set up.
Huddersfield will be looking to blood their new signings which include the likes of Steve Mounie and Tom Ince. Unfortunately they will be without the services of Jonathan Hogg and Nahki Wells due to ankle issues.
Crystal Palace fans will be eagerly awaiting to see how the Eagles get on in their first home game under new manager Frank de Boer, who is trying to implement a new possession based style into this Palace team. Palace will be missing the likes of some key players through injury, which includes the talents of Yohan Cabaye, James McArthur, Bakary Sako, Connor Wickham and Pape Souare. They will however be looking to unleash their new defender Jairo Reidewald.
Due to the strength of the top sides in the league it is hard to see Crystal Palace or Huddersfield Town breaking into the top bracket of the division, although stranger things have happened. It is more than likely they will be battling it out come the latter end of the season, potentially to stay in top flight football.
Consequently both sides will of course be looking to start their campaigns with the all-important 3 points, in the Premier League momentum is hard to achieve. Something Frank de Boer will want to achieve with his new side.
Crystal Palace have won just one of their last twelve encounters with Huddersfield Town and will be looking to rectify that record, in what will be a thrilling encounter to mark the start of the new Premier league season.pre
Prediction:
Crystal Palace 2-1 Huddersfield Town
Written By Cameron Harrison
