Crystal Palace will host Brentford at Selhurst Park on Saturday, looking to get back to winning ways.
Crystal Palace are winless in their last six Premier League matches, and they have dropped to 15th in the league table ahead of the visit of Brentford. They could easily be dragged into the relegation battle if they continue to falter in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Brentford are no better, having dropped to 14th in the standings. The Bees are coming into Saturday’s game on the back of four consecutive league defeats, with the latest coming at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Both teams are going through a rough patch right now, and they will be desperate to bounce back strongly. They are certainly capable of beating each other, and it remains to be seen who comes out on top.
Team News & Tactics
Crystal Palace
The Eagles will be without Cheick Doucoure, who is ruled out for the season with a calf injury. Joel Ward will return next month from his thigh injury, while Sam Johnstone misses out with a calf issue.
Crystal Palace are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Dean Henderson in goal. Nathaniel Clyne and Tyrick Mitchell will start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out in the attack and protect the centre-backs. Joachim Andersen will start alongside Marc Guehi in central defence.
As for the midfield unit, Chris Richards and Jefferson Lerma will look to break up opposition attacks and provide defensive cover to the side. Michael Olise and Andre Ayew will start in the wide areas, and they will look to add creativity and goals to the side. Jean-Philippe Mateta will lead the line for Crystal Palace here, with Eberechi Eze operating behind him in the central attacking midfield role.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Henderson; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Lerma, Richards; Olise, Eze, Ayew; Mateta
Brentford
The visitors have a number of injury problems heading into this game, and they will be without Rico Henry who is ruled out for the season with a knee injury. Bryan Mbeumo will return in April, as he is suffering from an ankle injury. Aaron Hickey and Joshua Dasilva are ruled out with thigh injuries.
Ben Mee and Ivan Toney remain suspended. Kevin Schade will return to action next month from his groin injury along with Kristoffer Ajer, who is suffering from an ankle injury. The visitors will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Mark Flekken in goal.
Mads Roerslev and Saman Ghoddos will start as the full-backs. Zanka will start alongside Ethan Pinnock in the central defensive pairing. As for the midfield unit, Christian Norgaard will start as the defensive midfielder, and he will look to protect the defenders and break up opposition attacks.
Mathias Jensen and Vitaly Janelt will add physicality and drive to the midfield. Neal Maupay will lead the line for Brentford against Crystal Palace, with Yoane Wissa and Keane Lewis-Potter on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Flekken, Roerslev, Zanka, Pinnock, Ghoddos; Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt; Lewis-Potter, Maupay, Wissa
Key Stats
- Crystal Palace have drawn their last five matches against Brentford in all competitions.
- Brentford have lost six of their last seven matches in the Premier League.
- 11 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two sides.
- Crystal Palace have conceded ten goals in the last six matches across all competitions.
- Brentford have conceded at least once in each of their last five outings.
Player to Watch
Michael Olise
The 22-year-old Crystal Palace winger has been outstanding in his last three appearances against Manchester City, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion. He has picked up two goals and an assist in that time and will look to make his mark in the final third once again.
Brentford have been quite vulnerable defensively, and they will struggle against Michael Olise, who will inject pace, unpredictability and sharpness in front of the goal.
Prediction
Crystal Palace 1-1 Brentford
Both teams will be desperate for a win here, and this is likely to be a close contest. Neither side are particularly good defensively, and they will look to outscore each other. Five of the last six meetings between these two teams have ended in a draw, and they could easily cancel each other out once again. A stalemate seems quite likely this weekend.
