Burnley vs Crystal Palace Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats

Burnley will host Crystal Palace in the Premier League this weekend, looking to end their losing streak with a positive performance at home.

Burnley have picked up five defeats in their last six league matches, and the home fans will demand a strong performance from the players against Crystal Palace. The Clarets have an impressive record against Crystal Palace, and they are unbeaten in five of the last six meetings against the Eagles.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are coming into this game on the back of three consecutive Premier League defeats as well. They will be desperate to fix their poor record against Burnley, and it remains to be seen whether they can pick up all three points here.

Team News & Tactics

Burnley

The home side will be without Lyle Foster, with the in-form striker missing the game through an illness. Meanwhile, Hjalmar Ekdal is ruled out until the end of this month with a knee injury.

Josh Cullen is suspended for this game after picking up five yellow cards. Michael Obafemi and Aaron Ramsey are ruled out with their respective long-term injuries. Burnley are likely to shape up in their usual 4-3-3 formation, with James Trafford in goal.

Vitinho and Charlie Taylor are likely to be deployed as the full-backs. The duo will have the license to charge forward unlike most other games, although they will remain compact during the defensive phases. Ameen Al-Dakhil will partner with Dara O’Shea at the heart of the defence.

In the midfield unit, Josh Brownhill will start as the holding midfielder, with Sander Berge and Johan Berg Gudmundsson providing defensive support. The three players will look to add defensive cover and physicality to the Burnley midfield.

But Gudmundsson will also provide the forward thrust from the middle of the park. Finally, Zeki Amdouni will lead the line for Burnley against Crystal Palace, with Luca Koleosho and Mike Tresor lining up alongside him.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Trafford; Vitinho, Al-Dakhil, O’Shea, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Brownhill, Berge; Koleosho, Amdouni, Tresor

Crystal Palace

Michael Olise is ruled out with a thigh injury, and he is unlikely to be fit for the foreseeable future. James Tomkins is unavailable due to a calf injury, and he is expected to return later this month. Meanwhile, Dean Henderson remains a long-term absentee with a thigh injury.

Crystal Palace are likely to shape up in a 4-3-3 formation as well, with Sam Johnstone in goal. Joel Ward and Nathaniel Clyne will be deployed as the full-backs, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Joachim Andersen will start alongside his usual partner Marc Guehi at the heart of the defense.

Cheick Doucoure will feature as the central defensive midfielder, and he will look to protect the centre-backs and break up opposition attacks. Jefferson Lerma will add drive and physicality alongside him, with Will Hughes providing the creativity and control. Finally, Odsonne Edouard will lead the line for Crystal Palace, with Jordan Ayew and Jeffrey Schlupp on either side of him.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Clyne; Lerma, Doucoure, Hughes; Ayew, Edouard, Schlupp

Key Stats

• Burnley have lost five of their last six matches in the Premier League.
• Burnley have conceded at least two goals in their last three matches in the Premier League.
• 15 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two sides.
• Burnley are unbeaten in five of their last six meetings against Crystal Palace.
• Crystal Palace have conceded six goals in their last two outings.

Player to Watch

Jordan Ayew

The 32-year-old Crystal Palace attacker is our key player to watch out for this weekend. He produced an impressive performance against Tottenham Hotspur despite the defeat at home and will look to make his mark against Burnley as well.

Celebrating a new contract with Crystal Palace, Ayew will look to influence the game with his creativity, movement, link-up play and finishing ability. He will aim to help create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates and get on the scoresheet himself as well.

Prediction

Burnley 2-2 Crystal Palace

Both teams will be desperate for a win here, and this is likely to be a close contest. Neither side are reliable defensively, and this should be an open game with a fair few opportunities for either side. A high-scoring game is on the cards here, and the two teams are expected to cancel each other out.