2019/20: Five key dates that will determine if Crystal Palace can make top 10

Football FanCast

By D Kostanjsak

Published Jun 14, 2019

Five key dates that will decide if Crystal Palace can secure a top ten spot in the Premier League next season.

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Finishing top 10 in the rather feisty environment of the Premier League is usually a job easier said than done. Crystal Palace know that better than most. They just missed out on it last year, but it's possible looking ahead to 2019/20, and here are five key dates that might determine whether they make it.

10 August, Everton (H)

Palace will start the new season with a bang, literally. Everton should be top of their list of teams they have to take down in their journey to the top 10. This becomes even more evident when we factor in that they barely scraped a point off the Toffees last season. Starting the new campaign strong is vital.

28 September, Norwich City (H)

Establishing themselves against the newcomers could also prove to be important. But this game is an absolute must-win considering it comes right after Spurs (A), as well as Wolves (H), and is preceded by West Ham (A) and Manchester City (H). A huge sequence for Palace where getting any points will be vital.

2 November, Leicester City (H)

Another huge home game where they can't afford to drop any points if they are to make the top 10. Beating the Foxes is a top priority, considering this game is sandwiched between Arsenal (A) and Chelsea (A). The match against the Blues is also followed by a heavyweight contest with Liverpool at Selhurst Park.

7 December, Watford (A)

Watford finished one place above Crystal Palace last season, so beating them should definitely be on the agenda when the new campaign rolls around. This is amplified even more when we consider that the Hornets beat Palace home and away when the two sides met last term.

18 January, Manchester City (A)

Crystal Palace can't really hope to take down too many of the top teams throughout the whole season, but let's not forget that game at the Etihad in 2018/19. If Palace can somehow replicate that result, or maybe even improve on it in some other big encounters, it could prove to be essential if they are to break the top 10 ceiling, as Wolves beat Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea last term.