Premier League Preview: Brentford’s Summer Transfer Star’s Injury Affects Competitiveness; Palace’s Loss of Olise a Hidden Danger

At 21:00 on August 18, the first round of the Premier League, Brentford will host Crystal Palace at home. Both teams are located in the lower mid-table of the Premier League, and to avoid falling into the relegation battle, they need to fight hard for points against their competitors from the start of the season.  

In the 2023-24 Premier League season, Brentford ranked 16th with 39 points from 10 wins, 9 draws, and 19 losses, while Crystal Palace ranked 10th with 49 points from 13 wins, 10 draws, and 15 losses.

In the summer transfer window, Brentford made significant moves, bringing in Thiago for €33 million and Carvalho for €23.4 million. In the previous two seasons, Thiago had a good goal-scoring efficiency during his time at Ludogorets and Club Brugge, but he is now facing a long-term absence due to injury. Carvalho is a promising player with notable potential. The most notable departure was David Raya, who was loaned to Arsenal last season and then bought out by the Gunners for €31.9 million.

For Brentford, the team’s early schedule is quite tough. In the first five rounds, they will face away matches against Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham, three of the BIG6 teams, putting immense pressure on the team. If they cannot secure a win at home in the first round against Crystal Palace, they may find themselves in a passive situation near the bottom of the table right from the start.

The investment from Crystal Palace has been relatively limited, signing Ismaila Sarr for €15 million and Riad for €15 million. The 22-year-old striker Eberechi Eze was sold to Bayern Munich for £53 million, which will also have a considerable impact on the team’s strength. It will be challenging for Crystal Palace to maintain their excellent performance from last season in the highly competitive Premier League.

In the first five rounds, Crystal Palace have the advantage of playing three home games but will also face Chelsea and Manchester United, two of the BIG6 teams.

In this match, Brentford’s Joshua, Hickey, and the club’s record signing Thiago are sidelined due to injuries; Crystal Palace have a full squad available.

In their past encounters, Brentford has one win, six draws, and three losses, placing them at a disadvantage; at Brentford’s home ground, the two teams have met with Brentford unbeaten with one win and four draws.

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