Crystal Palace 4 - 1 Leeds United: Finished | 2020-11-07 | Premier League

Goalkeepers	G	GC	SAV
Vicente Guaita	0	1	2

Forwards	G	A	SHO	FC	FS
Wilfried Zaha	0	1	0	0	5
Jordan Ayew 85' 70'	1	0	1	4	2

Midfielders	G	A	SHO	FC	FS
James McArthur	0	0	0	2	3
Eberechi Eze 22'	1	1	2	0	3
Jairo Riedewald 77'	0	0	0	2	1
Andros Townsend 71'	0	0	1	1	0

Defenders	G	SHO
Nathaniel Clyne	0	0
Patrick van Aanholt	0	3
Cheikhou Kouyaté	0	0
Scott Dann 12'	1	1

Substitutes	FC	FS
Jeffrey Schlupp 71'(Andros Townsend)	0	0
James McCarthy 77'(Jairo Riedewald)	0	1
Christian Benteke 85'(Jordan Ayew)	0	0
Michy	0	0
Mamadou Sakho	0	0
Gary Cahill	0	0
Jack Butland	-	-

Goalkeepers	G	GC	SAV
Illan Meslier	0	4	3

Forwards	G	SHO	FC	FS
Patrick Bamford 27'	1	2	0	0
Jack Harrison	0	1	1	2
Hélder Costa 45' 42'	0	0	2	0

Midfielders	A	SHO	FC	FS
Stuart Dallas	0	0	1	0
Ezgjan Alioski	0	1	1	0
Mateusz Klich	1	0	5	1
Pascal Struijk 71'	0	1	1	0

Defenders	SHO	FC	FS
Liam Cooper	1	2	2
Robin Koch	0	2	1
Luke Ayling	0	1	1

Substitutes	SHO	FC	FS
Raphinha 45'(Hélder Costa)	1	0	1
Tyler Roberts 71'(Pascal Struijk)	0	0	0
Jack Jenkins	0	0	0
Oliver Casey	0	0	0
Leif Davis	0	0	0
Ian Poveda-Ocampo	0	0	0
Kiko Casilla	0	-	-

90'+3'

But Roy Hodgson can look at that clinical brilliance and take hope. His side won't be anywhere near the foot of the table if they play like that. Both sides are done for a fortnight now - next up is the November international break. Until the next time then, thank you for joining us and have a good weekend!

90'+3'

Eagles fans will go to bed tonight knowing that, even at this early stage in the season, they have what could be a vital three points to cut the legs out from a relegation battle down the line. But Leeds supporters? Well, once they've finished putting their eyes back into their heads after that VAR call, they will have to muse on just where it went wrong today. That Eze free-kick was arguably unstoppable, and the Helder Costa own goal was something of a freaky fluke. But there's no denying that they should have probably done better with the other two, Illan Meslier in particular. The young keeper might have learned a valuable lesson today.

90'+3'

A deflected Jordan Ayew strike puts the finishing gloss on an emphatic Crystal Palace victory here, as they run out 4-1 winners over Leeds United at Selhurst Park. Roy Hodgson's side made the most of their chances, with clinical skill and discipline throughout - and while Marcelo Bielsa's visitors were nowhere near as poor as the scoreline suggests, they will still have to face up to the spectre of another four-goal defeat ahead of the international break. Full-time, it finishes Crystal Palace 4-1 Leeds United.

90'+3'

FULL-TIME: CRYSTAL PALACE 4-1 LEES UNITED

90'+1'

We're into the first of three added minutes before the end. McCarthy cuts out Bamford's legs in the penalty area but no call comes the Leeds man's way, including from his new mortal enemy VAR.

90'

Do Leeds just chalk this up as one of those days? They've had nearly as many shots as the hosts, almost twice as much possession too. Players have had fine individual performances, and they faced some terrible VAR decision-making in the first half. They've not been anywhere near as bad as the scoreline suggests - but they can't kid themselves and say they've been wonderful for the ball they've had either.

88'

Van Aanholt smacks an effort into the side netting, to remind Leeds that their day may not be over yet. Palace have had less than 300 passes in this game - United have made almost 600. And yet, the scoreline tells a different story.

87'

United break through Harrison and Alioski down the right, and then the final pass is pushed straight into the defence. That's perhaps been the story this second half for Leeds; they've just not made the connections up front, and more often that not, they've had men in the right place too.

85'

Substitution Jordan Ayew Christian Benteke Liolo

84'

Raphinha! That is close - very close! The substitute turns an absolute belter of a set-piece just around the wrong side of the near top post. A foot to the left and that would have taken the net off.

83'

Leeds have a free-kick, just outside the Palace penalty area. Time for a consolation? Raphinha - who hasn't quite found the impact he'll have wanted, but has still looked inventive for the visitors - will take.

81'

Even now, three goals up, Eze and Ayew are still causing problems. Palace haven't put the cue on the rack today, and that might just be what pleases their boss the most. Cooper is brought down by the latter now however and cuts off a counter in the process.

79'

Roy Hodgson, tucked into his seat in the dugout, has the look of a man who just potted a perfect snooker frame while drinking a pint; a sort of blindsided, minor-key happiness. He has every reason to be cheerful; his side have functioned well in defence and taken their chances when they have come with skill.

77'

Palace make their second change, replacing Riedewald with James McCarthy.

77'

Klich cuts down Zaha on the counter and picks up a booking for his efforts. Leeds have done admirably well to not get too frustrated so far, but there could be some rash challenges now if they're not careful.

75'

For the second time in a row, Leeds United have conceded four goals in a Premier League match. The same thing happened of course against Liverpool, in that madcap opening match, and you could maybe excuse it against Leicester last time out too. But, with no disrespect to their hosts, this is Crystal Palace. On the basis of the scoreline, there has got to be some questions about their defence. Is it simply the Premier League or is the absence of Ben White still felt?

73'

If any further indicator was needed of how United's luck has broken today, Bamford's header from six yards out has somehow flown wide of the right post by the width of a bus. That VAR call was arguably a signal of the shape of things to come.

71'

Townsend meanwhile is replaced by Jeffrey Schlupp for Palace.

71'

For what good it may do, Leeds make their second change of the game now as Struijk makes way for Tyler Roberts.

70'

What were Leeds doing around the back there though, to let Zaha simply carve that ball between them? Marcelo Bielsa is impassive right now, but he may be internally screaming. It's not been his side's day.

70'

GOAL! JORDAN AYEW SEALS IT FOR CRYSTAL PALACE! 4-1! What a day for Roy Hodgson - and what a result for the Eagles. Zaha cuts in off the left flank, and finds his way to the Leeds box, slipping a neat ball in for his strike partner - and though Meslier gets a hand to it, the power behind the shot deflects it into the net with a slow arc. A fist-pump from the attacker; he's surely sealed an emphatic return to winning ways for the hosts.

67'

Leeds continue to press from the corner and Harrison is the man who drills an effort through a crowded box next, with Guaita unruffled by the finish. Down the other end, Alioski manages to cut off a Palace shot and Meslier claims cleanly.

65'

Alioski! Harrison clears the free-kick from the Palace box and Leeds break at a blistering pace. Raphinha pins the crossfield ball out to the makeshift left-back who sees a deflection pull his finish around the wrong side of the right post.

63'

There's an attacking change incoming for United by the looks of things; Tyler Roberts is getting his instructions from Marcelo Bielsa. Cooper meanwhile clips Zaha and Palace have a free-kick on the left edge of the Leeds penalty area.

61'

Dallas gets flagged for a handball inside the Palace box now, as he looks to help supply Bamford with a chance to shoot under pressure. These marginal calls are the sort Leeds could do without, breaking up their attack.

59'

Germany defender Koch has been a particular under-fire target for Leeds this season - he's been arguably the most inconsistent of their new buys. If Diego Llorente was fit, would he be getting the nod instead?

57'

Alioski lofts a mid-range cross in from the left that Guaita has no trouble dealing with. Leeds look to work it forward again, with Dallas operating through the middle and on the right, before Palace snatch back possession. The supply line up to Patrick Bamford has been noticeably thin in this half - but another Leeds counter now allows Raphinha to drag a ball towards him which Dann picks off.

55'

Another Leeds corner now and Palace sky the clearance, allowing Koch to try a header and a shot in the box. Both are easily deflected, given the softness of the power behind them.

53'

Eze curls an effort around the right post from outside the box now. Palace haven't sat back; they're pushing for a fourth so far, and pushing with some degree of conviction too. It's a well-balanced match on the field, if not on the scoreboard.

51'

Now that's what Raphinha can do for this Leeds side. As a pair of fresh legs, he turns Van Aanholt around on the touchline and helps set up a chance for Ayling to deliver into the box. Palace turn it out and it will be a corner. Harrison pumps it in - and then a second attempt a moment later - which Struijk heads wide of the near post.

45'+2'

We haven't really talked about that VAR call but perhaps we should. Patrick Bamford looked to be about a foot onside in terms of where his feet were compared to two defenders - yet because he had his arm out, to point where he wanted the pass to be delivered by Klich, he seems to have strayed across the magic line. Whites fans - and general dissidents of the system - will still be absolutely frothing.

49'

Cooper now picks up the first booking of the game for a particularly stern challenge on Zaha. Borderline whether it was a card, but he's flashed the yellow anyway.

45'+2'

Leeds fans will have looked down the fixture list after they were promoted and circled the games that would be theoretical must-wins to avoid an immediate return. This game was very likely one of them - and it's going to take one heck of a response to pick up three points from here. Palace know they are in the driving seat; the question is whether Roy Hodgson wants to hedge his bets before the international break and simply shut up shop at the back now.

48'

An early attempt by Leeds to play out from the back is snatched by Townsend and Alioski is forced to double back to cover the tracks. There has been some distribution tempting fate today by the visitors.

45'+2'

Four goals and another disallowed strike; we've not been short of entertainment at Selhurst Park, as Crystal Palace take a 3-1 lead against Leeds United into the dressing room. The hosts took an early lead through Scott Dann's header and doubled it with a sublime Eberechi Eze free-kick just after their visitors had an equaliser from Patrick Bamford chalked off for offside by VAR. The striker still provided another response though, with a well-controlled finish - but then a freak deflection off Helder Costa for Patrick van Aanholt and some ropey keeping from Illan Meslier saw the Eagles restore two-goal parity just before the interval. At half-time, it's Crystal Palace 3-1 Leeds United.

45'+2'

HALF-TIME: CRYSTAL PALACE 3-1 LEEDS UNITED

46'

Marcelo Bielsa has indeed made a change at the break, and it is own goal man Helder Costa who makes way for Raphinha. Can he help wrestle this one back for United?

46'

We're back underway for the second half at Selhurst Park. Can Leeds - who enjoyed more ball in that first half, remember - find a way back?

45'+1'

We're into the first of two minutes of injury time in this half, as Leeds draw a promising free-kick out wide on the left flank. Harrison pumps it in and a Palace header guides it away to safety.

44'

Marcelo Bielsa is no stranger to the early change, but surely he won't swap out his goalkeeper? Three goals in one half, even if that one was pretty freaky, is not a good look. Former Real Madrid man and United's ex-number one Kiko Casilla is on the bench if needed.

42'

Do they have panthers in Argentina? They have jaguars, for certain. Leeds themselves are on the prowl now however, with Harrison again looking to keep the supply route between himself and Alioski strong on the left wing. Townsend manages to cut it off and draw the foul in-field.

42'

GOAL! IT'S A THIRD FOR CRYSTAL PALACE! 3-1! This will go down as a Helder Costa own goal, as, on the left edge of the 18-yard box, the winger slides in to deflect a cross from Patrick van Aanholt. Instead, it takes an acute deflection, and somehow squeaks under Meslier at the left post and bounces back in off the right. That is a horror-show goal to concede for Leeds. Palace strike just before the break.

40'

An exchange of short passes on the touchline creates the entertaining visual of Roy Hodgson flicking his head to and fro like he's watching a tennis match. Marcelo Bielsa meanwhile remains impassive, crouched like a bespectacled panther. A half-hearted shout for handball against Ayling goes unanswered.

38'

Klich tries to pick off some Palace back-passes to no avail, but Leeds break sharply when a long ball falls kindly for Struijk in midfield. Van Aanholt tracks back and helps cover and danger a moment later.

36'

Eze is continuing to make problems for the Leeds back-line though, which without Kalvin Phillips there to drop back and assist as ably as he does when he plays, has looked a little rusty. Skipper Liam Cooper is implacable for the most part, but it has its fractures.

34'

After Palace looking the sharper of the two sides inside the first quarter-hour, the pendulum has swung for Leeds, who are enjoying the lions' share of possession too, at 62 per cent to date.

32'

Townsend's corner is a particularly rotten effort, tepidly skipping over the heads of everyone in the box and out for a goal-kick on the far side of the posts, That won't be troubling Meslier.

31'

Don't you just love it when there are three goals inside the opening half-hour? Here's to hoping this match doesn't peter out. Optimistic expectations of a decent haul look to have been on the money so far. Palace pick up a corner as Zaha sees his shot from just inside the box deflected by Ayling.

29'

Roy Hodgson will have some choice words about the efforts of goalscorer Scott Dann there, who looked to be the one responsible for marking Klich. Leeds will be delighted to have a response on the board - but can they push on and find another before the break?

27'

Klich indeed just helped guide that ball to earth in favour of his teammate. It's a neat assist, and he gets it too after having that earlier one chalked off for offside.

27'

GOAL! PATRICK BAMFORD PULLS ONE BACK FOR LEEDS UNITED! 2-1! You're surely not denying the striker there, that is a clinical finish. Palace's defenders fail to defuse a looping ball into their box that Klich might get a slight nudge on - and the ex-Chelsea graduate roars through, controls it with a touch of his chest and rifles a low finish into the bottom-left corner. Fantastic stuff to bring Leeds back into this contest.

26'

They have been handed a less lucky slice of the pie so far of course; if that Bamford goal had stood, they'd likely be on level footing. Clyne looks to put a throw out of his own half now and finds himself flummoxed by Harrison, the Manchester City loanee who continues to impress over the Pennines in West Yorkshire.

24'

There is a long way to go in this game - and remember, this is of course the Leeds side who opened their Premier League return with a few goal festivals - but Marcelo Bielsa will have every right to be dismayed with how things are going for his side. Koch may have some atonement to achieve here.

22'

GOAL! EBERECHI EZE DOUBLES CRYSTAL PALACE'S LEAD! 2-0! It's an absolute rocket of a free-kick, hoisted over the wall and banged into the near top-left corner. Meslier perhaps should have had that better covered. Bad to worse for Leeds; Palace are in dreamland.

20'

Now Leeds have to defend a dangerous free-kick too for good measure, after Koch trips Eze lazily on the edge of the box. The visitors have committed five fouls so far, compared to two from Palace.

14'

Leeds look to carve out an immediate response, piling forward, and it is Alioski who gets two bites of the proverbial cherry, first with a skewed shot that trickles to the defence and then with a lob cross when the resulting clearance is poor. Guaita picks it off easily enough.

12'

Eze is the man with the corner, turned in wonderfully - and it looks like the finish might have taken the slightest of touches off the crossbar to help fox Meslier. Roy Hodgson has a grin on the touchline.

12'

GOAL! SCOTT DANN HEADS CRYSTAL PALACE INTO THE LEAD! 1-0! Appeals for a free-kick following a challenge that put Ayew on the ground go unanswered but Palace do get a corner - and the resulting set-piece is tucked into the far top corner by the defender with a cracking header, rising above Cooper to beat Meslier. The Eagles are ahead inside the opening quarter-hour.

10'

Townsend is sporting a little bit of a limp now after a challenge from Cooper, with the Scotland international seemingly having caught the Palace man's foot. It doesn't look particularly troublesome though and he seems to shake it off.

8'

The first corner of the game comes United's way now, after some strong pressing from Ayling on the break. Klich slips it into the box and Cooper nods an arcing ball well over the crossbar from outside the six-yard area.

7'

It's the visitors who look more nervy in these early exchanges, as Eze slips their net know and delivers a cut-back ball for Van Aanholt. The shot is again off-target and Meslier collects with cool poise once more.

6'

Leeds look like they have shifted to a fluid 3-3-1-3 formation in these opening exchanges, which had been speculated given the XI they named. Cooper and Koch play it around the back, looking to build a move.

4'

Cooper tries to thread the eye of the needle with a long, booming crossfield delivery for Costa, only for Palace to pinch it and counter smartly. The move is blistering, and carves out a chance for Townsend - but he can't keep possession before Alioski atones for that earlier moment and dislodges him. No lack of early zip here.

2'

The hosts make the early infringements down the right flank, and a fast-take throw-in wrong-foots Alioski. Townsend pops a low shot off; it's skewing wide, but Meslier takes no chances and takes it cleanly. Down the other end, Costa concedes a relatively soft foul as Leeds make their first in-roads into the Palace half.

1'

We are underway in this Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Leeds United!

-

The teams have emerged at Selhurst Park and we'll just be moments away from kicking off.

-

It's seven years since these two sides last met in the Championship, when they played out a 2-2 draw thanks to doubles from Glenn Murray and Steve Morrison. But their last Premier League meeting requires a much further dive into history, all the way back to January 1998. Leeds ran out comfortable 2-0 victors that day away from home, thanks to goals from Rodney Wallace and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - while Erling Haaland's father Alfe-Inge came off the bench for the Whites.

-

The absence of Pablo Hernandez for Leeds is a noticeable one. The veteran Spaniard is a noted, passionate individual, and since his rather innocuous arrival at the club, has emerged as one of the players at the heart of the Bielsa revolution. But at 35, he is into the twilight of his career - and having played just a full game only once since football was suspended for a British lockdown in March, it's easy to wonder if he is slowly being phased out. (His reaction to be substituted in defeat to Leicester last time out was striking.)

-

It's something of a testament to the weight that Palace have in their squad now that they can choose to leave players like Christian Benteke and Michy Batshuayi - current Belgium internationals - on the bench, as extra firepower. That being said, Leeds have quite the talent of their own in reserve; former Sporting and Rennes man Raphinha may be young but has looked the business on his cameos so far this season.

-

Subs: Ian Poveda, Tyler Roberts, Kiko Casilla, Raphinha, Leif Davis, Jack Jenkins, Oliver Casey.

-

LEEDS UNITED (4-1-4-1): Illan Meslier; Luke Ayling, Robin Koch, Liam Cooper, Ezgjan Alioski; Pascal Struijk; Helder Costa, Mateusz Klich, Stuart Dallas, Jack Harrison; Patrick Bamford.

-

Subs: Jack Butland, Mamadou Sakho, Jeffrey Schlupp, Christian Benteke, James McCarthy, Michy Batshuayi, Gary Cahill.

-

CRYSTAL PALACE (4-4-2): Vicente Guaita; Nathaniel Clyne, Cheikhou Kouyate, Scott Dann, Patrick van Aanholt; Andros Townsend, Jairo Riedewald, James McArthur, Eberechi Eze; Jordan Ayew, Wilfried Zaha.

-

There are contrasting, Covid-19-related fortunes in terms of teams today, with the hosts able to welcome back Jordan Ayew - one of three changes from the Palace side downed at Wolves. But Leeds - who have drafted Pascal Struijk and Ezgjan Alioski in - are still without record signing Rodrigo, currently self-isolating away from the matchday, while Pablo Hernandez is a surprise exclusion.

-

Yet the spectacle isn't simply just the lure of three points but that of two storied managers with a well-founded mutual respect. Roy Hodgson and Marcelo Bielsa are both well-traveled men; they've managed in over half-a-dozen different nations each, and have both guided their home nations in World Cup football. Both have been highly complimentary of each other in the buildup - and yet, their differing styles of management look set to serve up a contest of contrast.

-

In a match that could have been dismissed as mere mid-table fodder in August, both the Eagles and their visitors will be looking to put themselves firmly back in the ascendancy, after better-than-expected starts to both of their seasons. Palace may have slipped in recent weeks, but wins over Manchester United and current leaders Southampton has underlined their credentials this term - while Leeds have proven to be almost as immensely entertaining as they were in last year's Championship-winning run too.

-

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the 2020-21 Premier League as Crystal Palace and Leeds United both look to restore some momentum to their campaigns at Selhurst Park today.

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