Crystal Palace welcome Ipswich Town to Selhurst Park in Premier League Round 4, and both sides arrive with matching scorelines and a few shared trends. Each has scored 4 and conceded 8 across the opening three matches, so defensive stability is still a work in progress. The referee is Chris Kavanagh, who has shown 1,418 yellow cards and 33 reds in 383 games, so discipline will matter even in a fixture that trends low on cards. Follow the matchup live, including real-time stats and Sofascore Ratings, on Sofascore.

Match setup and odds

Selhurst Park (capacity 25,456) sets the stage for a meeting between two sides still feeling out their 26/27 rhythm. The market leans toward the home team in the 1X2, with Crystal Palace priced at 1.85, the draw at 3.80 and Ipswich Town at 3.90. On the Asian line, Palace sit -0.5 at 1.88, with Ipswich +0.5 at 1.98. Those numbers reflect Palace’s slight edge at home and Ipswich’s ability to stay in games, even if clean sheets have been elusive for both.

Lineups are not confirmed, but Palace have frequently shaped up in a 3-4-2-1, while Ipswich have leaned on a 4-2-3-1. Expect a contrast of wide threats and transitions: Palace have produced 5 fast breaks with 1 goal, and Ipswich also count 5 fast breaks with 1 goal. Cards and corners trends also hint at a controlled tempo: less than 4.5 cards has landed in 10/10 for Palace and 9/10 for Ipswich, and less than 10.5 corners has hit 5/5 for Palace and 5/6 for Ipswich. With Chris Kavanagh overseeing, small margins could swing it.

Form guide and key numbers

Both clubs have a similar statistical base so far. Palace’s expected goals sits at 4.5974 and Ipswich’s at 4.6101, essentially level. Shots are close too (Palace 30, Ipswich 33), with Ipswich edging shots on target (13 to 10). Palace’s issue is conversion: they’ve created 13 big chances and missed 10 of them, while Ipswich have created 6 and missed 3. If Palace sharpen up in the box, their output can rise quickly.

At the back, neither side has kept a clean sheet, and the away streak highlights Ipswich at five straight without one. Palace have made 83 clearances and 77 tackles, suggesting higher direct defensive involvement, while Ipswich post 90 clearances and 50 tackles. Errors have stung both: Palace have 2 errors leading to goals and Ipswich 1. Possession is nearly even (Palace 40.7%, Ipswich 41.0%), with pass accuracy also close (83.1% vs 81.8%). Recent streaks also point to goals: more than 2.5 goals has landed in 5/7 for Palace and 5/6 for Ipswich, and both teams scoring in 4/5 for Ipswich.

Head-to-head: Palace hold the recent edge

The head-to-head picture tilts toward Palace. In the team duel snapshot, Palace lead 7 wins to 2 with 1 draw. Recent top-flight meetings ended narrowly in Palace’s favor: a 1-0 away win and a 1-0 home win in the previous Premier League campaign. The head-to-head streaks underline a habit: Palace have 5 straight wins in this matchup slice and have been first to score in 5/5.

History can be useful context, though it won’t decide Round 4 on its own. Ipswich have had moments in friendlies and cups over the years, but Selhurst Park has typically been tough terrain. Trend-wise, cards usually stay low between these sides, a detail that may encourage more open play. Corners trends also lean under, hinting at attacks that push for quality rather than relentless volume of deliveries. If the first goal follows the recent pattern, it could force the visitors to take more risks.

Tactics and likely lineups

With lineups unconfirmed, Palace’s 3-4-2-1 has featured Dean Henderson in goal and a back line including Chris Richards, Axel Disasi and Jaydee Canvot. In midfield, Adam Wharton covers ground at an eye-catching 11.46 km per 90, while Anan Khalaili combines energy with end product, leading Palace with 17 tackles and 5 successful dribbles. Daichi Kamada has chipped in with 1 assist and 4 key passes, and Yéremy Pino has created 3 big chances with 5 key passes. Tyrick Mitchell has been a surprise source of goals with 2 from midfield, plus 4 key passes and a top speed of 32.69 km/h.

Ipswich’s 4-2-3-1 has been steady, with Kjell Scherpen in goal behind a unit of Dara O’Shea, Issa Diop, Jacob Greaves and Leif Davis. In midfield, Saša Lukić and Exequiel Palacios move the ball well, while Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (7 key passes, 3 big chances created) and Julio Enciso (2 assists, 12 shots, 4 key passes) provide craft and volume. Up front, Emersonn has contributed a goal and 3 key passes, while Daizen Maeda adds work rate and vertical runs. Defensively, O’Shea’s 20 clearances and Diop’s 5 interceptions stand out, and Davis adds width, 6 accurate long balls and a rapid 34.05 km/h top speed.

Players to watch

Crystal Palace: Ben Chilwell leads the team in average Sofascore Rating at 7.7, thanks to a sharp cameo that brought a goal in 16 minutes. He posted 100% pass accuracy, scored with his left foot from inside the box and registered 1 shot on target. It’s a small sample, yet it hints at a useful attacking outlet from deeper positions. Keep an eye on how Pierre Sage uses him if he features again. Around him, Kamada’s creativity and Pino’s chance creation can set the tone, while Mitchell’s timing in the box has already mattered.

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Ipswich Town: Kjell Scherpen tops the visitors in average Sofascore Rating at 7.47, with 13 saves, 4 high claims and 22 accurate long balls. He has faced 22 shots on target across three matches, with 6 saves from inside the box and 7 from outside. His goals prevented metric sits at -1.0126, but the shot-stopping volume and command suggest he will be central again. With Ipswich on a streak of matches without a clean sheet, his performance could be the difference between one point and three. Track live momentum and every player’s Sofascore Rating on Sofascore.

Team news and useful trends

Crystal Palace list several absentees: Chadi Riad (D, knee injury), Ismaïla Sarr (F, groin injury) and Jean-Philippe Mateta (F, hamstring injury) are out, while Eddie Nketiah (F) is doubtful with physical discomfort. Ipswich report Jack Taylor (M, knee injury) as unavailable. Given the card trends under 4.5 for both teams and a low-corners profile, a clean structure and set-piece execution could be decisive. Palace have been first to concede in 5/6 by streak, so an early start would ease home nerves.

At the same time, Ipswich have been first to score in 5/7 by trend, and both teams scoring has landed in 4/5 for them. Add in the shared more-than-2.5-goals patterns and we may get a watchable game with chances at both ends. With odds narrowly favoring Palace, the opening goal and shot quality should shape the storyline. However it breaks, the data points to fine margins, a useful goalkeeper on each side and plenty to monitor live.

We’ll have the live build-up, momentum swings and every stat you need on Sofascore. If you like your football served with numbers, this one has a bit of everything.