Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough prediction, betting tips, lineups and odds. Get expert analysis, bet builder angles and match insights for Tuesday's clash.
Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough Match Summary
Competition | English League Cup |
|---|---|
Match Date | Tuesday 8 September 2026 |
Match Time | 19:45 UK time |
Venue (City, Stadium) | Selhurst Park, London |
Crystal Palace host Middlesbrough at Selhurst Park in the League Cup third round, with the Eagles heavily fancied to see off their Championship visitors on Tuesday night.
Palace enter the competition at this stage thanks to their Europa League commitments, and they arrive fresh from a first Premier League win of the season, a 3-2 success at Fulham.
Middlesbrough reached the third round by beating Doncaster Rovers 3-1, and they travel south in fine fettle after continuing a strong start to their Championship campaign.
This one carries pedigree for the hosts: Crystal Palace have won five of their last six home matches against Middlesbrough in all competitions, and they can call on that record here.
Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough Form
Crystal Palace finally clicked at the weekend, coming from behind twice to beat Fulham 3-2 at Craven Cottage for a first league win of the campaign. Defender Tyrick Mitchell was the unlikely hero with a brace, though he picked up a knock and is now a doubt. Jørgen Strand Larsen is expected to lead the line in his place.
Middlesbrough have made a fine start, winning three and drawing one of their last four in all competitions, and taking five of their opening seven fixtures across the board. They saw off QPR with a clean sheet in London before this trip, and beat Doncaster Rovers 3-1 to reach this round. Kim Hellberg's side arrive with genuine belief.
Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough Lineups & Team News
Injuries & Suspensions
Crystal Palace: C. Riad (Injured/out), I. Sarr (Injured/out), J. Mateta (Injured/out), H. Ahanor (Injured/doubtful), E. Nketiah (Injured/doubtful), T. Mitchell (Injured/doubtful)
Middlesbrough: A. Bangura (Injured/out), J. Sarmiento (Injured/out), S. Berhalter (Injured/doubtful)
Crystal Palace
Eddie Nketiah and Tyrick Mitchell could both miss out after picking up knocks at the weekend, leaving the hosts short in a couple of areas. Ben Chilwell and Jørgen Strand Larsen should come into the Crystal Palace line-up to freshen things up, with Iyad Sarr, Cheick Riad and Jean-Philippe Mateta all sidelined through injury.
Middlesbrough
Sebastian Berhalter suffered an injury in the win over QPR and misses out on this trip. Alfie Jones and Luke Ayling are in line to come into the back line, while Rokas Pukstas could make his full Middlesbrough debut. Alex Bangura and Jeremy Sarmiento remain unavailable through injury.
Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough Predicted Lineup
Crystal Palace
Formation: 3-4-2-1 (probable)
Predicted Starting Lineup: Henderson; Tomiyasu, Disasi, Richards; Chilwell, Wharton, Hughes, Khalaili; Pino, Kamada; Strand Larsen
Middlesbrough
Formation: 3-4-2-1 (probable)
Predicted Starting Lineup: Vítek; Jones, Malanda, Ayling; Arfsten, Morris, Pukstas, Brittain; McGree, Joseph; Conway
Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough Key Stats & Match Facts
Crystal Palace have won five of their last six home matches against Middlesbrough in all competitions.
Crystal Palace have been winning at both half time and full time in their last three home matches against Middlesbrough in all competitions.
Middlesbrough have won three and drawn one of their last four games in all competitions.
Middlesbrough reached the third round by beating Doncaster Rovers 3-1.
Both sides are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 shape for this cup tie.
Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough Prediction & Best Bets
Our prediction: Palace are the clear favourites at home and their edge in quality should tell, but Middlesbrough are in good nick and carry a threat. We fancy the hosts to edge it in a game with goals at both ends, and the projected 2-1 scoreline backs that up.
Best Bets
Back both teams to find the back of the net in the Both Teams To Score market. Both sides set up in attack-minded 3-4-2-1 systems here, and that tends to open the game up at both ends. With Palace favoured but Boro carrying a genuine threat, there is real implied probability of both sides getting on the scoresheet.
Select Over 2.5 Goals in the Total Goals Over/Under market. A Premier League host welcoming a Championship side in confident form points to an open, high-scoring cup tie. The shape of the fixture gives this one a strong implied probability of clearing the 2.5-goal line.
Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough Bet Builder
Our four-leg bet builder backs Crystal Palace to win, both teams to score, over 2.5 goals in the game, and Jørgen Strand Larsen to find the net at any time.
Palace hold home advantage and are the shortest price in the Win Market, and with their extra top-flight quality they look well placed to see this tie through.
Both teams to score makes sense given both line up in open 3-4-2-1 shapes, and Middlesbrough have looked lively at the top end during their bright start.
Over 2.5 goals fits the picture of a Premier League host against a confident Championship visitor, a fixture that projects as an open, high-scoring affair.
Strand Larsen is set to spearhead the attack as the focal point and main goal threat, and the anytime goalscorer market is where he belongs in this bet builder.
At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 4/1 and is as short as 16/5 elsewhere.
Make sure to get the best odds on your Bet Builder with Oddschecker's Exclusive Bet Builder Comparison Tool.
Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.
Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough Talking Points
This is Palace's first outing of their League Cup campaign at Selhurst Park after a bye to the third round, and the hosts start as clear favourites at 5/6 with Bet Victor. Rotation is the key subplot for the visitors, with Kim Hellberg having signalled he intends to shuffle his squad to manage workload and blend in recent signings, which could hand Rokas Pukstas a full debut. Middlesbrough are 16/5 with Unibet to spring a surprise, and given the goal threat in both camps, the draw at 3/1 with Bet Victor cannot be ruled out entirely either.
Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough Predictions FAQs
When does Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough kick off?
The match kicks off on Tuesday 8 September 2026 at 19:45 UK time.
Where is Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough being played?
Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough is being played at Selhurst Park in London.
What competition is Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough in?
The match is an English League Cup fixture for the 2026/2027 season.
What are the predicted lineups for Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough?
Crystal Palace are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 with Henderson in goal, while Middlesbrough also look set for a 3-4-2-1 with Vítek between the sticks.
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