Newcastle United face a tough test as they visit Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, as both teams look to revive their fading top five hopes.
With Newcastle leading Palace by a single point in 13th and 14th respectively, a win for either team could lift them up into 12th if Southampton loses elsewhere.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesCenk Tosun is in contention to return from a hamstring injury which kept him out against Everton a fortnight ago, despite being ineligible to face his parent club anyway.
Martin Kelly is also expected to feature after missing that game with a calf strain, but James Tomkins and Mamadou Sakho are out with hamstring injuries alongside Jeffrey Schlupp (groin).
Newcastle could welcome back a host of players, including Dwight Gayle who has missed the last month with a hamstring injury.
Yoshinori Muto (hip), Javier Manquillo (hamstring), Joelinton, Jonjo Shelvey (both thigh) and Christian Atsu (illness) are all expected to feature in the squad along with Gayle.
Andy Carroll (groin), Emil Krafth, Ciaran Clark (both ankle), Paul Dummett (tendon), Jack Colback and Jetro Willems (both knee) are all ruled out.
Form
Crystal Palace enter this match without a league win in their last seven matches and on a three match losing streak (D4. L3), whilst keeping just one clean sheet in their last ten home games in all competitions.
Newcastle saw a four match unbeaten league run ended by Arsenal last Sunday (W1, D3, L1), whilst failing to keep a clean sheet in their last seven away trips in all competitions.
Stat Attack
- Crystal Palace are unbeaten in three of their last five meetings against Newcastle United (W1, D2, L2).
- Newcastle are winless in their last four trips to Selhurst Park (D3, L1)
- Neither team has failed to score more than one goal in last six clashes since Palace won 5-1 in November 2015.
- Newcastle have scored their only penalty in this Premier League fixture, whereas Palace have missed one of their three penalties.
- There is yet to be a red card in this Premier League fixture.
Prediction
Selhurst Park has been Palace’s Achilles heel all season because they just don’t seem to find the same performance that they do on the road, which is a huge worry if Newcastle turn up and produce another attacking first-half performance.
The Magpies however imploded after half time last Sunday against an reinvigorated Arsenal who came out with more desire and intent compared to the first half, which offers Palace hope if they can sit back and absorb the pressure before hitting back later on.
I therefore am expecting to see a scrappy encounter here because a draw will surely all but mathematically end top five hopes for both teams, but I think Newcastle will want this more given their quality which could well be key.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-2 Newcastle United
Result: Crystal Palace 1-0 Newcastle United
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