Crystal Palace host Newcastle United in the Premier League at the weekend and they will look to get back to winning ways after failing to win their last three league matches.
They are currently 19th in the league table and they need to start picking up points if they want to preserve their status as a Premier League club next season.
Crystal Palace have failed to win 11 of their last 12 games and they have looked quite vulnerable defensively. They have a poor record against Newcastle as well and they need to step up their performance levels in order to grind out a positive result here.
Newcastle are unbeaten in five of the last six matches against the Eagles, and they will be desperate for all three points here. They have lost three of the last five league matches, and they cannot afford to keep dropping points if they want to compete in Europe next season.
On paper, they are the better team and they should be able to pick up all three points away from home.
Team News and Tactics
Crystal Palace
The Eagles will be without Chadi Riad due to a knee injury, Matheus Franca due to a groin injury, Adam Wharton due to a groin injury, Daichi Kamada is suspended, and Rob Holding has been banished from the first-team squad.
Crystal Palace will shape up in a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Dean Henderson in goal. In the back three, Trevoh Chalobah will start alongside Maxence Lacroix and Marc Guehi.
Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell will start as the wing-backs. They will look to keep things compact at the back and help out during attack. Will Hughes and Cheick Doucoure will add creativity and defensive cover to the side in the middle of the park.
Ismaila Sarr will start in the number ten role and he will look to link up with the two strikers here. Jean-Philippe Mateta will lead the line for the Eagles alongside Eddie Nketiah.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Henderson; Chalobah, Guehi, Lacroix; Munoz, Hughes, Doucoure, Mitchell; Sarr; Mateta, Nketiah
Newcastle United
Newcastle United will be without Emil Krafth, who is ruled out with a shoulder injury, and Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles are out with long-term knee injuries. The Magpies will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Nick Pope in goal.
Valentino Livramento and Lewis Hall will start as the full-backs. They will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Lloyd Kelly will start in central defence alongside Fabian Schar.
In the midfield, Bruno Guimaraes will start alongside Sandro Tonali and Joelinton. Tonali will look to break down the opposition’s attacking moves, while Guimaraes and Joelinton will add creativity and drive to the side.
Alexander Isak will lead the line for Newcastle, with Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Livramento, Schar, Kelly, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon
Key Stats
Newcastle have picked up three wins from the last four matches in all competitions.
Crystal Palace have picked up two wins from the last six matches in all competitions.
Newcastle are unbeaten in five of the last six meetings against Crystal Palace.
Seven goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two teams.
Crystal Palace have failed to score in five of the last six meetings against Newcastle.
Crystal Palace have conceded at least twice in the last three league games.
Player to watch out for
Alexander Isak
The Swedish international striker has been in impressive form for Newcastle and he is our key player to watch out for. He will look to take advantage of Crystal Palace’s defensive vulnerabilities and punish them with his goalscoring ability. He is more than just a goalscorer and he will look to link up with his teammates and open up the home defence as well. Newcastle will need him to step up and deliver if they want to grind out all three points.
Prediction
Crystal Palace 0-1 Newcastle
Both teams will be desperate for a win here and this is likely to be a close contest. Matches between these two sides are often devoid of goals and this one is unlikely to be any different. The two sides are likely to take a cautious approach and they will not want to end up with a defeat. A low-scoring affair is on the cards, but Newcastle should be able to grind out a narrow victory. The visitors have the attacking quality to exploit Crystal Palace’s defensive frailties, and they should be able to come out on top.