The Premier League returns to Selhurst Park with the visit of Newcastle United as the Eagles bid to continue their move away from the bottom three.
Roy Hodgson will be keen for his side to continue the great run that has seen just two losses in fourteen games after the point against West Ham United on Tuesday evening.
The visitors will likely be happy with a point from this game in the circumstances after managing to get a draw out of Burnley in midweek but will know that they need more with the last ten fixtures of the Premier League season on the horizon.
A win for the hosts will see the Eagles move up to eleventh in the table while a win for the visitors will move them to twelfth which proves just how tight this division is.
Regardless of the much publicised sale of the North East club, Rafa Benitez has been able to bring in Kenedy from Chelsea, who impressed in his midweek debut, and striker Islam Slimani from Leicester City.
In contrast, Hodgson may be able to call upon his three new signings at some point who are all expected to make the bench for this game. How much of an impact they will make between now and the end of the season remains to be seen but the intrigue surrounding the trio is certainly there among the fans.
TEAM NEWS (courtesy of Physio Room)
CRYSTAL PALACE – Bakary Sako (ankle), Connor Wickham (knee), Scott Dann (knee), Jason Puncheon (knee), Jeffrey Schlupp (knee) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (ankle) will all miss out.
NEWCASTLE UNITED – Islam Slimani (thigh) will face a late fitness test while Florian Lejeune (foot) is a major doubt. Jesus Gamez (ankle) is not available.
ACTION REPLAY
The last time these two sides met at Selhurst Park was in November 2015 when the Eagles ran out convincing 5-1 winners but it was the hosts that took an early lead through Papiss Cisse. The hosts were level within minutes with as James McArthur scored the equaliser. Both Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha followed the Scotsman’s lead by adding themselves to the score-sheet before the break. A fourth soon after the break, a second for Bolasie, put paid to any potential Newcastle revival before McArthur completed the scoring with the fifth and his second in the closing minutes.
Who Scored man of the match – Yannick Bolasie (9.6)
FORM GUIDE
Last FIVE meetings between the two sides;
- 21/10/2017 Newcastle United 1-0 Crystal Palace
- 30/04/2016 Newcastle United 1-0 Crystal Palace
- 28/11/2015 Crystal Palace 5-1 Newcastle United
- 11/02/2015 Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle United
- 24/09/2014 Crystal Palace 2-3 Newcastle United
Last FIVE results for Palace;
- 30/01/2018 West Ham United 1-1 Crystal Palace
- 20/01/2018 Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace
- 13/01/2018 Crystal Palace 1-0 Burnley
- 08/01/2018 Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Crystal Palace
- 02/01/2018 Southampton 1-2 Crystal Palace
Last FIVE results for Newcastle;
- 31/01/2018 Newcastle United 1-1 Burnley
- 28/01/2018 Chelsea 3-0 Newcastle United
- 20/01/2018 Manchester City 3-1 Newcastle United
- 13/01/2018 Newcastle United 1-1 Swansea City
- 06/01/2018 Newcastle United 3-1 Luton Town
FORM PLAYERS (courtesy of Who Scored)
Top two rated players from each team so far this season;
- James Tomkins 7.18
- Wilfried Zaha 7.17
- Mikel Merino 6.99
- Jamaal Lascelles 6.98
ONE TO WATCH
MIKEL MERINO ZAZON
Former clubs – CD Amigo, Osasuna, Borussia Dortmund
Born in Pamplona, Merino began his career in the youth set up at CD Amigo before moving to Osasuna and made his first team debut in 2014. A move to the Bundesliga came in 2016 with Borussia Dortmund where he failed to make an impact which led to a loan move to St James’ Park last year before signing permanently in the summer. The 21-year-old midfielder has made a number of appearances for Spain at under 19 and under levels but yet to receive a full international cap.
PREDICTION
Final league position – 18th
With the bottom half or the table being so close this season it is tough to predict the three to go down. Perhaps Newcastle are an easy target based on the owner not seemingly taking this season seriously and it remains to be seen if the two recent loan signings will make an impact. Having said that, they do have something about them but consistency has been the key but they will be in the mix come the end of the season, as will plenty of other teams. The eighteenth placed team may end up considering themselves unlucky come the final whistle in the last game of the season.
- TEB prediction – home win
- Jacob Jackman’s prediction (see link below) – draw
- Who Scored prediction – home win
BETTING ODDS (courtesy of Paddy Power)
- Home – 10/11
- Draw – 23/10
- Away – 3/1
- Both teams to score – 4/5
Find out what Newcastle United fan Jacob Jackman told TEB this week in The Newcastle View