Crystal Palace beat Aston Villa 2-0 as Marc Guehi curled a second-half goal into the top corner. Palace fans celebrated Guehi amid strong transfer interest and speculation linking him with Liverpool. Emiliano Martínez was absent from Villa's squad amid reported Manchester United interest and a potential part-exchange involving Jadon Sancho. Villa lost a year-long unbeaten home Premier League run and remain goalless this season. Criticism mounted over Villa's summer transfer activity. Palace have a long unbeaten run including an FA Cup triumph, while Marco Bizot received applause after keeping a clean sheet on his debut.
Two star players on the verge of moves to bigger clubs from Crystal Palace and Aston Villa respectively reflected the state of the spirit within their camps as Marc Guehi's memorable strike rubber-stamped the Londoners' latest triumph over the West Midlanders. We will never know whether Emiliano Martinez would have saved it as the Villa goalkeeper was unavailable for selection amid reports of Manchester United's renewed interest.
Villa, losing their year-long unbeaten home run in the Premier League, are yet to score this season. Their miserable summer's transfer activity is under an even harsher spotlight. On the eve of the transfer deadline, fans' interest was piqued by the release of the teamsheets. Guehi, the subject of a 35m bid from Liverpool, was once again named as the Palace captain.
Martinez was conspicuous by his absence as the Villa team bus drew up outside the players' entrance. It was reported that the club's former captain was not in the squad because he was not in the right frame of mind, with Manchester United said to be preparing a bid, Jadon Sancho being offered in part exchange. Villa had apparently not heard anything from United since they rejected a loan bid for their World Cup-winning goalkeeper earlier in the summer.
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