Southampton and Crystal Palace will go head-to-head at St Mary's Stadium in the Premier League on Wednesday night as both teams return to top-flight action.
Ivan Juric's side sit rock bottom with just nine points this season and look condemned to relegation already, while Oliver Glasner's side return to action after securing their place in the FA Cup semi-final with a dominant win over Fulham this past weekend.
Both sides have some injury concerns ahead of the game too, and this is how GIVEMESPORT expect the teams to line up.
Southampton Team News
Smallbone could return
William Smallbone celebrates for Southampton vs Liverpool
The Saints have got a host of injury problems and Juric won't be able to select midfielder Will Smallbone once again after a hamstring injury. Jan Bednarek should return after a concussion but Juan Larios and Ross Stewart are out.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis was sent home from international duty with an injury and the club are hopeful he will be available, while James Bree could also return after a spell on the sidelines.
Southampton Injuries and Suspensions
Player
Ross Stewart
Juan Larios
Taylor Harwood-Bellis
Jan Bednarek
James Bree
Will Smallbone
Juric Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Juric shared an update on his squad ahead of the game.
"Will [Smallbone] is out and the others are all fit. Hopefully he will be better next week or at the end of this week. James Bree is also okay."
Southampton Predicted XI
Onuachu to start
onuachu
Southampton Predicted XI: Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bella-Kotchap, Bednarek; Walker-Peters, Ugochukwu, Fernandes, Manning; Dibling, Onuachu, Sulemana.
Southampton Predicted Substitutes: McCarthy (GK), Stephens (DEF), Wood (DEF), Sugawara (DEF), Downes (MID), Aribo (MID), Lallana (MID), Gronbaek (MID), Archer (FWD).
With the Saints still hoping for a miracle, Juric is likely to name a centre-forward in his lineup meaning Onuachu should get a start after his goal against Wolves last time out.
£70,000-a-week midfielder Joe Aribo is likely to drop to the bench in his place, while veterans Adam Lallana and Jack Stephens will surely join him.
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Crystal Palace Team News
Mateta fit to feature
Oliver Glasner
The Eagles were able to welcome striker Jean-Philippe Mateta back to the side for their FA Cup clash at the weekend and he came through it unscathed, so he will be available to feature once again here.
Will Hughes missed the game through illness but should be fine to return, while Joel Ward, Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad will all miss out. Glasner has also revealed that Chris Richards is unavailable due to a calf injury, but could return at the weekend.
Crystal Palace Injuries and Suspensions
Player
Will Hughes
Chris Richards
Joel Ward
Chadi Riad
Cheick Doucoure
Glasner Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Glasner shared an update on his squad.
"We will miss Chris Richards tomorrow. He is struggling a bit with his calf.
"It doesn’t look very serious, so we expect him against Brighton at the weekend. But tomorrow is a little bit early.
“Everyone else is fit and available.
"JP [Mateta] is fine. He had 65 minutes at the weekend and he looks like he is getting back into his rhythm. He probably trained a little bit better this week, than last week."
Crystal Palace Predicted XI
Nketiah benched
Eddie Nketiah celebrating
Crystal Palace Predicted XI: Henderson; Lerma, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell; Eze, Mateta, Sarr.
Crystal Palace Predicted Substitutes: Turner (GK), Chilwell (DEF), Clyne (DEF), Kporha (DEF), Devenny (MID), Kamada (MID), Esse (FWD), Nketiah (FWD), Franca (FWD).
Despite goals in the FA Cup against Millwall and Fulham, and in the recent league win over Aston Villa, Eddie Nketiah is likely to find himself on the bench behind Mateta once more. January signing Ben Chilwell is also likely to be there, meaning the Eagles will have a £340,000-per-week trio as substitutes with Daichi Kamada too.
Jefferson Lerma could fill in at centre-back in Richards' absence.
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