Captain Marc Guehi shook off the distraction of his club future to score a stunning curling effort and help Crystal Palace to an impressive win at Aston Villa.

The goal, which helped seal Palace’s first win of the Premier League season, could mark a fitting end to Guehi’s four-year stay at Palace, with the England centre-back heavily linked with a move to Liverpool.

Already leading through Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first-half penalty, Guehi latched on to a loose clearance from Ezri Konsa and found the top corner from the edge of the box.

The majestic strike came at a time when Unai Emery’s Villa were threatening to find an equaliser after a flat first-half performance at Villa Park.

Villa were dealing with their own distractions from Monday’s looming transfer deadline, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez not included in their squad amid interest from Manchester United.

Mateta, who scored 14 league goals in 2024-25, had opened the scoring on 21 minutes with his first goal of the new campaign from the spot, after Daichi Kamada was tripped by goalkeeper Marco Bizot.

The victory was sealed in the 78th minute when Ismaila Sarr headed home after a long throw-in to the box was flicked on towards the far post by Maxence Lacroix.

The hosts dominated early possession but it was the visitors who broke the deadlock after Kamada was fouled by Bizot, with Frenchman Mateta sending the Villa keeper the wrong way from the resulting penalty.

Oliver Glasner’s side could have been 2-0 up shortly after but Sarr was unable to keep his header down from the cross of marauding right wing-back Daniel Munoz.

On the one occasion Villa went close in the first half through Ollie Watkins, Palace keeper Dean Henderson saved brilliantly to preserve his side’s lead.

Villa were much improved after the restart and Henderson had to dive low to his right to deny Morgan Rogers before Guehi’s goal sent them on course for a much-needed win.

Unbeaten Palace now have five points and are eighth in the table while Villa are second from bottom, with only one point, having not yet scored a goal.