**Crystal Palace host Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday. Kick-off is at 2pm live on Sky Sports.**
Newcastle are looking to put the [disappointment of the derby](https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2026/03/22/derby-disgrace-at-st-james-park-newcastle-1-2-sunderland/) behind them, finally, having had to wait for three long weeks to do so.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace come into this game with something far bigger on their minds as they play the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final tonight (Thursday) and the second leg a week later.
Other than being away from home, you’d think that everything else is playing into Newcastle’s hands for this one.
That’s certainly how Paul Merson sees it as he’s given his prediction for [Sportskeeda](https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/news-paul-merson-predicts-chelsea-vs-manchester-city-premier-league-gw32-fixtures). The former Arsenal man seems to think the Europa Conference League will take priority for Palace and they could field a weaker team on Sunday.
> _“Crystal Palace play tonight in the Europa Conference League. So you never know what line-up they will play against Newcastle._
>
> _“In all honesty, Palace’s season comes down to the Europa Conference League quarter-final against Fiorentina. That trophy is the only thing they care about._
>
> _“Newcastle had a really poor result against Sunderland last time out. If they had won that game, they would be on 45 points now, just four behind Liverpool in fifth. I’m not saying it was poor simply because it was the derby, but just for what a lift in the table that win could have given them._
>
> _“I’m backing Newcastle to win here. Like I said before, I doubt Palace will play their strongest team since they have their eyes on the Europa Conference League._
>
> _**“Prediction:** Crystal Palace 0-2 Newcastle United”_
We’d be lying if we said we weren’t a bit confident going into this one, but we’re also very aware that when we say that, that’s when we tend to get burned.
Newcastle are expecting to have Bruno Guimaraes and Lewis Miley back available for this one, both of whom will give the team such a huge lift, and that could be the difference.
It would be nice if Merson’s prediction of Palace fielding a weaker team comes to pass, though. We need to end the season strong, and we’ll take any help we can get to do that.