Crystal Palace will try to build on the perfect winning start with an Easter Sunday victory over fellow relegation rivals Leeds United.
Crystal Palace will face Leeds United this weekend in a battle between 12th and 13th-placed Premier League sides, as both teams look to bag points to move them further away from the relegation zone. Separated by a point and a place, both sides come into the game off the back of respective wins, making this contest even more intriguing and full of jeopardy.
Leeds United spent the weekend in the bottom three after being thrashed by Arsenal but climbed up to 13th on Tuesday after defeating Nottingham Forest at home in a vital six-pointer clash on Wednesday.
The Whites have only lost one of their past seven games at Elland Road, beating fellow relegation rivals Southampton and Nottingham Forest on either side of a Brighton draw. And new manager Javi Gracia will be aiming for more valuable points when Palace comes knocking.
As for the visitors, Palace were on a downward spiral until parting ways with Patrick Vieira after a nightmare run of 13 games without a victory and hiring former manager Roy Hodgson, who returned to the Selhurst Park dugout at the age of 75 until the end of the season.
In the Englishman’s first game back from retirement, the Eagles showed extensive attacking intent and grabbed a last-gasp winner in the 2-1 victory over Leicester City, a result that ultimately led to Brendan Rodgers losing his job at the King Power Stadium.
That was the first time Palace had troubled the scorers more than once in a match since New Year’s Eve, and that will surely provide a much-needed morale boost to an attack that has massively underperformed this season. Hodgson’s influence is already apparent, and there was a more upbeat vibe about Palace’s play in that win over the Foxes, which bodes well for their bid to avoid relegation.
Team News & Tactics
Leeds United
👋 Quick message from @Harrison_Jack11! pic.twitter.com/WOjylggYeq
— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 6, 2023
Leeds United should have no fresh injury concerns for this game but will remain without no fewer than four players. These are long-term absentees, including the likes of Maximilian Wober (thigh), Stuart Dallas (thigh), Adam Forshaw (hip), and Tyler Adams (hamstring).
After their massive win in midweek, Javi Gracia could be tempted to pick the same starting lineup, but expect some healthy rotation. Illan Meslier is set to continue in goal behind a back four of Rasmus Kristensen, Robin Koch, Pascal Struijk, and Junior Firpo.
Weston McKennie, who was excellent in the defensive midfielder role against Nottingham Forest, should keep his place to slot in for his USMNT international teammate Adams, partnering with Marc Roca in midfield, with the latter chomping at the bit to use his wide range of passing to dictate the proceedings.
Luis Sinisterra, who scored the match-winner in the first half on Wednesday, will almost certainly be switched to the right side. Gnonto should return to the left wing after being an unused substitute in midweek on his return from an ankle problem. Jack Harrison could well be handed the role of a creative No. 10 behind Rodrigo Moreno as Gracia looks to create some good scoring opportunities.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Kristensen, Koch, Struijk, Firpo; McKennie, Roca; Gnonto, Harrison, Sinisterra; Rodrigo
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace will be without the services of their talisman, Wilfried Zaha, who suffered a groin injury during the victory over Leicester City. Vicente Guaita is out with a calf strain, while Chris Richards and Nathan Ferguson are close to returning but not yet fit.
In Guaita’s absence, Sam Johnstone will be handed the chance to impress between the sticks for the Eagles. There should be no changes in personnel at the back, with Tottenham Hotspur-linked Marc Guehi partnering Joachim Andersen in central defence, while Joel Ward and Tyrick Mitchell are expected to start at full-back positions.
What about that for a save 😎#CPFC | @samjohnstone pic.twitter.com/UB7OAOIwT2
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 7, 2023
The same goes in midfield, with Cheick Doucoure starting at the base of midfield. The Malian enforcer will start alongside Jeffrey Schlupp and Eberechi Eze in the engine room and will be looking to help the Eagles control the tempo of the game. Eze could offer his distinct ball progression and dribble his way out of tight spaces.
Michael Olise and Andre Ayew will all look to link up and create problems for the Leeds backline. With Odsonne Edouard out of form, Hodgson will persist with the physical frame of Jean Philippe Mateta up top on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Schlupp, Doucoure, Eze; Olise, Mateta, Ayew
Key Stats
- Crystal Palace won the reverse fixture at Selhurst Park by a 2-1 scoreline and are looking to complete a league double over Leeds United for the first time since their 1985/86 campaign.
- Leeds have won their last seven home matches against Crystal Palace in all competitions.
- Leeds have scored at least twice in three of their last four games, but they have also conceded at least twice in four of their last six.
- Crystal Palace themselves have not kept a clean sheet in their last five games.
- The Whites have pocketed seven points from the last nine on offer at Elland Road.
Player to Watch
Jack Harrison
Jack Harrison is in hot form for Leeds United, with three goals in his last four outings. He also inked a new long-term deal at Elland Road. So it has been a busy few weeks for the Manchester City academy product. Things could have been very different for the player three months ago, as he was close to signing for Leicester City during the January transfer window.
However, the transfer collapsed on deadline day, and he has now committed his future to the Yorkshire club. He is finding his shooting boots just at the right time, with his team fighting for relegation, and could be the difference-maker here.
Prediction
Leeds United 1-1 Crystal Palace
Wilfried Zaha is a big loss for Crystal Palace in the final third. Leeds United have been playing with attacking endeavour in the final third lately, as evidenced by their return of nine goals from their last four league matches. Defensively, they have looked like their usual error-prone selves.
While at first glance, it looks like a proper mid-table clash, both teams are still desperately looking over their shoulders despite positive results last time out. Given how much is on the line for both sides, there is a chance both may see a point as a positive result. And a 1-1 draw could potentially be on the cards.
