Two of the Premier League's most inconsistent sides come face to face on Friday night, with Crystal Palace and Newcastle surely looking to prove a point at Selhurst Park.
Newcastle have won just one of their last five games in the Premier League and will have to improve to better a Crystal Palace side that has been in equally stuttering form. The Magpies are currently in 15th place in the Premier League standings and will need to take it up a notch this weekend.
Crystal Palace have fared slightly better than their opponents over the course of this campaign and are currently in 11th place in the league table, two points above their visitors. The hosts suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to lowly Burnley last weekend, however, and will look to return to winning ways on Friday.
Where to Watch
When is Kick-Off? Friday 27 November
What Time is Kick-Off? 20:00 ( GMT )
Where is it Played? Selhurst Park
TV Channel/ Live Stream? Amazon Prime Video
Referee? Graham Scott
Team News
Crystal Palace will have to do without their talisman Wilfried Zaha after the forward tested positive for COVID-19 last week. Nathan Ferguson, Connor Wickham, Joel Ward and Wayne Hennessey all remain injured too.
Tyrick Mitchell, James Tomkins and Gary Cahill are all doubts for the clash while Luka Milivojevic is currently serving a three-match ban and will be unavailable for selection as well.
Newcastle striker Callum Wilson missed his side's game against Chelsea due to a hamstring injury but is likely to return to the lineup this week.
Martin Dubravka, DeAndre Yedlin, and Ryan Fraser remain injured and won't be called upon. Winger Matt Richie could be involved in the game but remains doubtful.
Predicted Lineups
Crystal Palace: Guaita; Clyne, Dann, Kouyate, Van Aanholt; Townsend, McArthur, Riedewald, Schlupp; Eze, Batshuayi
Newcastle: Darlow; Murphy, Fernandez, Lascelles, Schar, Lewis; Almiron, Shelvey, Hayden, Saint-Maximin; Wilson
Recent Form
The Eagles have been impressive in patches this term and they head into this one having taken 13 points from nine games.
They have had an excellent run at home, losing just one of their last five matches at Selhurst Park in the Premier League.
After their impressive start to the season, Newcastle have had it difficult in recent times. They head into this encounter with one win from their last five games.
Steve Bruce’s side are sitting in 15th place with just 11 points. Goals have been hard to come by for the Magpies with Bruce's men bagging just four goals in their last five league, including none in their last two games in back-to-back 2-0 defeats. Bruce will hope Wilson's potential return remedies that issue.
Here's how both sides have fared in their last five games in all competitions
Crystal Palace
Burnley 1-0 Crystal Palace ( 23/11 )
Crystal Palace 4-1 Leeds United ( 07/11 )
Wolves 2-0 Crystal Palace ( 30/10 )
Fulham 1-2 Crystal Palace ( 24/10 )
Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton ( 18/10 )
Newcastle
Newcastle 0-2 Chelsea ( 21/11 )
Southampton 2-0 Newcastle ( 07/11 )
Newcastle 2-1 Everton ( 31/10 )
Wolves 1-1 Newcastle ( 24/10 )
Newcastle 1-4 Manchester United ( 17/10 )
Prediction
The Magpies are going through a worrying stretch at the moment, securing just one win in the league from their past five outings, and more concerning still is that they have only had a single win on the road this whole season, and that came on the opening day of the season.
Roy Hodgson will be frustrated by his side’s lack of consistency. The Eagles have alternated between defeat and victory over their last four matches – a 4-1 win over Leeds was followed up by a 1-0 defeat to Burnley.
It is likely that it'll be an even encounter and that the spoils will be shared on Friday night.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle
Source : 90min