Crystal Palace vs Burnley
Date: 01/12/2018
K/O: 15.00
Venue: Selhurst Park
Referee: Lee Probert
Crystal Palace welcome Burnley to Selhurst Park in an intriguing bottom of the table clash.
The Clarets are currently one point above the relegation zone with Palace only above them on goal difference. A win for either club could see them jump as high as 13th and away from imminent danger for the time being.
Both teams come into the match in fairly rotten form – Palace have not won in nine league matches, whilst Burnley, on the other hand, are the comparatively in-form team being winless in only six games. Likewise, if either team were to lose they would most probably fall into the relegation places; a place no club wants to be in the run up to the busy Christmas period.
Palace are still seemingly completely reliant on Wilfred Zaha to win them games. The Ivorian made a return from injury against Manchester United last week and should remain fit to lead the line against Burnley.
Whilst he is undoubtedly Palace’s best player, this would be a good opportunity for their other attacking threats to step up and make themselves known against the incredibly porous Burnley defence.
Roy Hodgson will also be boosted by the fact that James Tomkins, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Mahmadou Sakho all made their return against United as well. Wan-Bissaka, in particular, has impressed in his debut season in the Premier League having been called up to the England U-21 squad, with many pundits and fans calling for his inclusion in the senior squad.
As mentioned above, Burnley have an issue with conceding goals. They are currently shipping two goals a match and only Fulham have conceded more than them. If it is any consolation to Sean Dyche they are going up against one of the weakest attacks in the Premier League. Palace have scored only eight goals in the league this season, joint bottom with Huddersfield. They have still not scored from open play at Selhurst Park.
Team News
Palace will be without Chrstian Benteke and Connor Wickham who are both long-term absentees. Neither have shown great form in recent years but it can’t be denied that for a team who struggle to score goals having two strikers out injured is not helping. It is likely that Zaha and Andros Townsend will be leading the line for Palace again on Saturday.
Scott Dann, who hasn’t appeared for Palace since December, is recovering well but lacks match fitness.
Burnley have no new injury worries. Nick Pope, Jonathan Walters, Stephen Ward and Nahki Wells all remain sidelined.
James Tarkowski, Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Ben Gibson all missed Burnley’s recent trip to Newcastle. Gibson made the bench that day so should be available whilst Dyche is still waiting on the fitness of Gudmundsson and Tarkowski.
Predicted Starting XIs
Crystal Palace (4-4-1-1)
Hennessy; Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt; McArthur, Kouyate, Milivojevic, Meyer; Townsend, Zaha.
Burnley (4-4-2)
Hart; Lowton, Long, Mee, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Defour, Cork, Brady; Vokes, Wood.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 2 Burnley 0
Burnley are the perfect opponents if you need to get some confidence and goals under your belt. Palace will be buoyed by their recent draw with Manchester United and with so many players returning from injury, they should be fresh and raring to go.
Burnley, on the other hand, are in a real bit of trouble. They need to start getting positive results before things start spiralling out of their control.
