CHRISTIAN BENTEKE
Christian Benteke’s move to Crystal Palace was massive. He didn’t settle at Liverpool but that was probably out of his control with a managerial change seeing the team change their style. However, if you don’t settle quickly it becomes harder and harder but to his credit he still scored ten goals last season despite playing the majority of his football from the bench. He’s already opened his Palace account with a goal against Middlesbrough and he is playing regular football again which will only help him improve. He’s a player we’ve struggled to deal with in the past and he’s scored a lot of goals, but I think we now have a player in Lamine Kone who can combat his physical presence, so it should be a great battle to watch.
WILFRIED ZAHA
Wilfried Zaha is a player we’ve all been aware of for a very long time. He moved to Crystal Palace at the age of 12 but it was the move to Manchester United which really caught our attention. Many will say it didn’t work out but you can tell he’s used his experience at Old Trafford to his benefit, and he’s come back to Palace and started to fulfil his undoubted potential. He’s still just 23 and on deadline day he was linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur so he’s an incredibly driven and incredibly talented player, and if I was a defender I’d constantly be wondering what he’s going to do next so it will be a big test for Patrick van Aanholt.
CONNOR WICKHAM
We all know about Connor Wickham following his four-year spell with the club. From a football purists point of view, I really want to see Connor do well and progress so that he can fulfil the potential we saw in him all those years ago, but I hope he doesn’t do that tomorrow because he did exactly that last season and had a big impact on the game. He’s a player all Sunderland fans will be looking out for because he’s a part of our history – we all remember the goals against Chelsea and Man City – so following tomorrow’s game I hope he really kicks on and has a good season.
MATHIEU FLAMINI
Mathieu Flamini brings experience to the Crystal Palace ranks and he’s a good signing on a free transfer. During his two spells at Arsenal he won the FA Cup three times and helped them reach the UEFA Champions League final while also winning the league with AC Milan in 2011. He played his part last year making 24 appearances for the Gunners and the move suits both him and Crystal Palace so it will be interesting to see what impact he has.
STEVE MANDANDA
I watched Steve Mandanda a few times last season and I really like him; he has presence, authority and he’s a proper goalkeeper. I really enjoyed watching him play during his time at Marseille and I felt a bit sorry for him in the Coup de France final because he had a really good game, but PSG were just too good. During his time in France he gained UEFA Champions League experience and he’s represented France at three European Championships and a World Cup, so Palace have brought in a very good player.
ANDROS TOWNSEND
Andros Townsend is a player I really like because he scores wonder goals. On his day you can’t stop him and he loves to cut in from the right and have a pop so we need to be switched on throughout the game because he can score in a flash. His time at Newcastle ultimately ended in disappointment but he looks incredibly settled at Palace and I personally think that he’s better suited to their style of play and the players he has around him. He could be a match winner for Palace and he might well want to come up here and silence a few people so he’s definitely one to watch out for.
Match betting odds with Dafabet
Jermain Defoe to score two or more NOW 12/1 (was 10/1)
Duncan Watmore to score anytime NOW 11/1 (was 17/2)
Sunderland to win and over 2.5 goals NOW 13/2 (was 5/1)
Sunderland to win 1-0 NOW 9/1 (was 7/1)
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