25/26 Crystal Palace Early Season Review

As we gear up for a hectic end of the year, we review how the season has started, where we can look to improve and predictions for the end of the season as well as performance and player of the season

Written by @SelhurstExpress

THE SELHURST EXPRESS

NOV 12, 2025

For most of us, the 24/25 season will be near impossible to better and will take some serious performances to improve on. 3 months in however and a very good platform has been set by Glasner and the players as this group continue to show its quality week in week out.

Premier League

10th in the league would ordinarily represent a very solid start in most seasons for Palace, especially compared to this time last season having only won 1 of our first 11. However there is the feeling amongst many that we should be higher and all the attacking stats seem to lean that way too.

We currently sit 4th for xG with a total of 21.03 which would put us level with Arsenal and Manchester City, however a common theme of our season has been an inability to finish chances and shows with us only scoring 14. Ultimately it is a good place to be in as we are creating chances and over the course of the season these stats even themselves out so plenty to be positive about. Our strong defensive unit has remained in tact as we have only conceded 9 so far, ranking 3rd behind only Arsenal and Manchester City. We have always been touted for our defensive solidarity and the added depth with Canvot and the return of Riad will allow our starters to get the rest they will need and maintain performance, giving us a fantastic base to work from.

Once we click more regularly up front and we continue to be defensively strong, there’s no reason why we cannot push towards top 6 and qualify for Europe through the league. A couple of deals in January will help a lot and Glasner teams are known for improving as the season goes on. AFCON will be a period to navigate without Sarr and potentially Riad too which makes January all the more important but this group and manager have shown we can come out of difficult periods looking better than ever.

Predicted finish: 7th

Europe

Following the debacle in the summer, Conference League football would be welcomed to Selhurst Park and it’s fair to say it’s been an interesting journey already. Play off win against Fredrikstad was unconvincing but a job was completed and the league phase awaited us. A comfortable win in Lublin against Dynamo Kyiv and a first home win in Europe against AZ Alkmaar came either side of a disappointing and frustrating home defeat to AEK Larnaca.

It’s clear to see we have learned from Larnaca with a very impressive performance against AZ and the group is beginning to learn the demands of European football both physically and mentally. The most important thing is we have full control of our destiny and bar a catastrophic run of form, look set to reach the round of 16 with relative ease should we beat Strasbourg next.

More performances like AZ and we will be difficult to stop in the Conference League given the lack of teams on the level of AZ so I remain confident of reaching Leipzig in May!

Predicted finish: 25/26 Conference League Winners!

League Cup

An unconvincing penalty shootout win against Millwall was followed with a very professional 3-0 win at Anfield against a very young and unconvincing Liverpool side. A repeat of last years’ Quarter Final is on the cards as we travel to Arsenal a mere 3 days after we travel to Leeds (Thanks to the EFL for the great scheduling). We haven’t played at our best in the tournament but ultimately we have shown how effective we can be in cup tournaments and once again are showing we can pick up results without being outstanding on the eye.

The league cup is never a competition I particularly care for and given the games surrounding this one, it would not be a game to prioritise. Knowing Glasner we will go strong and there is the opportunity to get closer to another final which we would absolutely take, however Premier League and Europe will always be more important.

Predicted finish: Tight defeat to Arsenal 2-1

Performance of the Season

There have been many performances so far this season that have been nothing short of outstanding. AZ at home, Villa away and Kyiv away will stand out for many but there is one that I think many will agree with…….

Crystal Palace 2-1 Liverpool

The league champions came to Selhurst Park with a perfect record from their opening 5 games and a record at Selhurst that left many Palace fans coy about our chances. 97 minutes later and a late Eddie Nketiah winner secured a famous win in SE25, ending Liverpools’ unbeaten run and extending Palace’s.

This was the best performance we have seen under Glasner and one of the best I can remember since we returned to the Premier League. From minute 1, every single player was fantastic especially in the first half where we could have been 4 or 5 up. It had the feeling where we knew we would win the game from the moment it started, a feeling similar to when we beat Arsenal 3-0 under Vieira back in 21/22.

Player of the Season

Many have continued their fine form from last season and are showing the jump to Europe is not affecting them at all. The elegance of Adam Wharton, the calmness of Marc Guehi, the ever reliable Dean Henderson and the relentlessness of Daniel Munoz are clear to see in abundance. However it is 2 players who have shone and look set to better their seasons from last year and it is near on impossible to split the two.

The level of growth this player has had under Glasner has been staggering and has changed him as a player. A willingness to take on players, win free kicks and get forward more has surprised many Palace fans and has been a key part of the form of the last 18 months. He has barely put a foot wrong so far this season, pocketed Salah, Minteh and Saka to name a few and has picked up a rare goal to add to his collection.

That player is our very own…… Tyrick Mitchell!