Crystal Palace-Newcastle is a match for the twenty-first day of the Premier League and is played on Saturday at 6:30pm: stats, TV, lineups, predictions.
Since resuming play after the World Cup break Crystal Palace had only brought home points in the league clash with newly promoted Bournemouth. Otherwise, three worrying home defeats – seven goals conceded between Fulham and Tottenham without scoring any – between the Premier League and FA Cup. A week ago the Eagles had also returned to losing on the road, conceding 1-0 in the derby with Chelsea.
Last Wednesday’s losing streak came to an end in the play-off against Manchester United: in the dying minutes, a goal from Frenchman Olise thwarted Bruno Fernandes’ lead and stopped the Red Devils’ unstoppable run, as they came to the English capital on the back of a long run of consecutive victories. All in all, a good defensive performance by Patrick Vieira’s men, who were able to hold out and believe in the possibility of a draw until the very end. The league table, meanwhile, is still the same: Palace are apparently in no danger of being sucked into the fight not to be relegated, but the long-awaited leap in quality is still not coming.
At Selhurst Park, meanwhile, comes another team fighting for a place in the top four and therefore in the next Champions League: Newcastle.
The Magpies continue to show no signs of letting up. In the Premier League, they haven’t known defeat since last August and after the double scoreless draw with Leeds and Arsenal, they returned to winning ways in the league – in between, however, there was the elimination from the FA Cup against Sheffield Wednesday and the landing in the League Cup semifinals at the expense of Leicester – thanks to the 1-0 success over Fulham, who were knocked down in a quite comfortable way. And above all by once again keeping the goal unbroken. Fourth in the standings just below the two Manchesters, Newcastle boast the best defensive numbers in the league: they score little compared to the big boys, but scoring goals is extremely difficult.
The Prediction
Crystal Palace saved their lives in the last minute against Manchester United, but they might not be able to do so against a team, Newcastle, who concede very few goals, almost never lose and have won 16 points in 9 away matches. The Magpies are favourites in a match in which they should also be able to keep their goals unbeaten, considering that in almost every game since Boxing Day Palace have been goalless
Crystal Palace-Newcastle’s likely line-up
- CRYSTAL PALACE (4-2-3-1): Guaita; Clyne, Tomkins, Guéhi, Mitchell; Schlupp, Doucouré; Ayew, Olise, Eze; Zaha.
- NEWCASTLE (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Murphy, Willock; Almiron, Wilson, Joelinton.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 0-2
