Crystal Palace defeated Aston Villa 3-0, with Marc Guehi scoring a stunning goal amidst Liverpool transfer rumors. Jean-Philippe Mateta opened the scoring with a penalty, followed by Guehi’s brilliant strike and a late goal from Ismaila Sarr. Palace’s victory highlights their strong start to the season, while Villa struggles near the bottom of the table. The win showcased Palace’s clinical finishing and solid defense, ending Villa’s long unbeaten home run.
Crystal Palace delivered a resounding statement with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday, marking their first Premier League win of the season. The match was highlighted by a stunning second-half goal from Marc Guehi, whose future at the club is currently the subject of intense speculation amid reported interest from Liverpool. The Eagles soared to victory, showcasing a blend of defensive solidity and clinical attacking prowess that left Villa Park stunned.
Oliver Glasner's men weathered the transfer speculation surrounding Guehi and took an early lead in the 21st minute. Daichi Kamada was brought down in the box by Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot, and Jean-Philippe Mateta confidently dispatched the resulting penalty. The goal set the tone for Palace, who looked composed and determined throughout the match. Villa, on the other hand, appeared disjointed and struggled to find any rhythm in their play.
Aston Villa had a golden opportunity to level the score just before halftime when Ollie Watkins found himself through on goal. However, Palace's goalkeeper Dean Henderson produced a superb point-blank save to deny Watkins and preserve his side's lead. The save proved to be crucial, as it maintained Palace's momentum and deflated Villa's hopes of a comeback.
Villa manager Unai Emery made tactical adjustments at halftime, and his side showed signs of improvement in the final third after the break. However, they were unable to penetrate Palace's resolute defense. The visitors remained disciplined and organized, frustrating Villa's attacking efforts.
The sucker punch arrived in the 68th minute when Guehi unleashed a magnificent curling shot into the top-right corner of Bizot's net. The goal was a moment of pure brilliance, showcasing Guehi's technical ability and composure. It also served as a timely reminder of his value to Palace, as speculation about his potential move to Liverpool continues to swirl.
Crystal Palace sealed the victory late on with a third goal, adding insult to injury for the home side. Jefferson Lerma's long throw-in was flicked on by Maxence Lacroix, and Ismaila Sarr was on hand at the back post to nod the ball home. The goal sparked jubilant celebrations among the Palace players and fans, who were thrilled with their team's dominant performance.
The result propels Crystal Palace to eighth in the Premier League table, maintaining their unbeaten start to the 2025-26 season after three games. In stark contrast, Aston Villa find themselves languishing in 19th place with just one point, a disappointing start to the campaign for Unai Emery's side. The Villa faithful will be hoping for a swift turnaround in fortunes as the season progresses.
Data Debrief: Guehi's leadership was evident both in his defensive duties and his spectacular goal. Concerns that the transfer rumors might distract him proved unfounded, as he delivered a commanding performance. Palace's xG (expected goals) of 2.67 from just six attempts dwarfed Villa's 1.13 from 13 shots, highlighting the clinical nature of their attack. This victory also marked the end of Aston Villa's impressive 19-match unbeaten run at home. This result saw Palace extend their unbeaten run across all competitions to 14 matches (W6 D8) – their longest ever stretch as a top-flight team in club history.
Three points.
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 31, 2025
Clean sheet.
Unbeaten in 14. pic.twitter.com/qJADGRHy3g