Crystal Palace welcome Aston Villa to Selhurst Park in the first of a Super Sunday quadruple header.
Victory would see Palace stay 13th for the sixth consecutive matchweek, whereas Villa could climb to 10th.
Team News
Nathaniel Clyne is a doubt for Palace after illness prevented him from training this week.
James Tomkins (fitness) could return but Patrick van Anholt is ruled out for personal reasons, thus joining Mamadou Sakho (thigh), James McArthur (muscle), Nathan Ferguson (thigh) and Connor Wickham (knock) on the sidelines.
Villa could rest Tyrone Mings after the defender suffered a knock to his knee following a clash with teammate, Ezri Konsa during Thursday’s goalless draw against Everton.
Ollie Watkins is contention for selection after serving an one match ban on Thursday evening, but Morgan Sanson, Trezeguet (both knee) and Matty Cash (hamstring) are ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Crystal Palace have won two of their last five meetings against Aston Villa (W2, L3).
- Villa have won just one of eight Premier League trips to Selhurst Park (W1, D2, L5).
- Each of Christian Benteke’s last two goals for Palace have come in the second minute.
- No Villa player has been caught offside more times this season than Ollie Watkins, who was found offside on 29 occasions.
- Palace have failed to win any of their three previous home league games refereed by David Cootes (D1, L2).
Prediction
Having produced an excellent performance away at Sheffield United last weekend, Palace will be disappointed to have blown their early lead at Southampton in midweek yet the Saints were just too clinical and sharp on the ball which is no disgrace to say.
Villa meanwhile recovered from their second half defensive collapse last weekend against Manchester United to hold Everton to a goalless draw on Thursday, which wasn’t a bad result given how scrappy the game was especially without Watkins up front.
Both teams however now have nothing to play for so I expect this to be an interesting game but with Watkins and Jack Grealish now back in contention, I think Villa should have enough to edge this despite their poor record at Selhurst Park.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-2 Aston Villa
Result: Crystal Palace 3-2 Aston Villa
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