Crystal Palace welcome Brentford to Selhurst Park in a midweek London derby clash in the Premier League.
Victory could see Palace climb to sixth if Fulham and Chelsea both lose elsewhere, whereas Brentford will look to improve to fifth if Leeds and Chelsea both suffer defeat in other matches.
Team News
Tyrick Mitchell is a doubt for Palace after he suffered a knock in their 4-2 defeat at Manchester City, although he could well be rested as part of squad rotation.
Wilfried Zaha (knock) could return but Jack Butland (hand), James Tomkins (calf), James McArthur (groin) and Nathan Ferguson (foot) remain absent.
Brentford could welcome Pontus Jansson back from a foot injury which kept him out of their 1-1 draw at home to Everton on Saturday.
Kristoffer Ajer (fitness) is also a doubt but Sergi Canos (hamstring) and Ethan Pinnock (knee) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Crystal Palace are unbeaten in two previous Premier League meetings against Brentford (D2), as both matches last season finished goalless.
- Brentford kept a clean sheet in their only away clash against Palace in the Premier League as they snatched a 0-0 draw in August 2021.
- There has never been three consecutive draws between Palace and Brentford in all competitions.
- Only one of Palace’s six league goals this season so far have been scored from a header – Joachim Andersen in their 4-2 loss at Man City at weekend.
- Brentford have scored nine goals in their opening four matches this season compared to just three goals at same stage last season.
Prediction
Having enjoyed another positive display against Man City with two clinical first-half goals, Palace simply imploded defensively in the second-half with poor marking at fault for all four conceded goals as they struggled to match City’s improved intensity.
Patrick Vieira therefore will probably be glad that his team are already back in action just days later as this offers them a chance to reset, instead of alternatively dwelling on their mistakes for a week if this was any other matchweek.
Brentford meanwhile seem to have plenty of confidence and pace in attack but inaccurate finishing cost them a win against Everton on Saturday, so I would like to see them show more calmness in the final third whilst also tightening up defensively to deal with long balls.
I however do see both teams making changes but if Palace’s defence pick up where they left off at the weekend and Brentford are super clinical, this game could be dead and buried pretty early on but I fancy both teams to share the points here.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Brentford
Result: Crystal Palace 1-1 Brentford
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