MARC OF A CHAMPION

Captain Guehi to go out on high as Villa are torn apart

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ON a night shaped by transfer speculation surrounding a star player on either side, the one who bothered to turn up was handsomely rewarded.

Marc Guehi celebrated his strike to put Crystal Palace two goals clear with a wild kneeslide in front of the visiting supporters a possible hint he will remain at Selhurst Park rather than venture to Liverpool.

But for Aston Villa the prospect of losing goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez before 7pm today has deepened an awful start to the season in which they are also yet to score a goal.

Argentina stopper Martinez was replaced by Marco Bizot between the posts and he conceded a first-half penalty by tripping Daichi Kamada before seeing efforts from Guehi and Ismaila Sarr sail past him in a limp second period for Unai Emery's team.

Now Emery faces an anxious wait to see if Manchester United can lure one of his most prized assets away - with little prospect of a replacement arriving in time and the in-house alternative a significant downgrade.