Newcastle United will travel to Selhurst Park to take a high-flying Crystal Palace team in the Premier League on Sunday. The Magpies are currently struggling in the league and will be desperate to secure the three points in this contest. The match can turn out to be a ‘relegation six-pointer’ with both sides still in danger of suffering the agony of relegation to the English Championship at the end of the campaign. Benitez’s team has just managed to score two goals in their last three matches and will now be looking to improve on that record when they face off with one of their relegation rivals Crystal Palace.
The recent history of the fixture favours the Toon Army as their side has won three of their previous five meetings with the Eagles across all competitions. Benitez is expected to opt for a 4-4-1-1 formation and might make two changes by bringing in Jonjo Shelvey and Jacob Murphy into his starting eleven. Islam Slimani, the new Newcastle United signing is a major doubt for this game and might have to sit out on Sunday and wait for his Premier League debut for the club.
4-4-1-1 Newcastle United Predicted Lineup To Face Crystal Palace
Defence
Karl Darlow will once again start in goal for the Magpies and may be shielded by a backline consisting of Jamaal Lascelles and Ciaran Clark as centre-backs while Paul Dummett takes the position of left-back and DeAndre Yedlin resumes his duties on the right side of the back four.
Rafael Benitez’s men have conceded 35 goals in 25 matches in the Premier League so far and have leaked in seven goals in their past three games in all competitions. A clean sheet on Sunday may go a long way in boosting their chances of securing the three points at the Selhurst Park.
Midfield
Jonjo Shelvey and Mikel Merino might be deployed at the centre of the park while new signing Kenedy hugs the left flank and Jacob Murphy looks to conquer the right-hand side of the midfield. The Magpies midfielders will be responsible to create some opportunities for their forwards to feed on and their performance on the day could decide the fate of the contest.
Attack
Ayoze Perez might be used behind Dwight Gayle who will lead the lines up front for the Tyneside club. Both strikers have struggled to score goals recently so they will be looking to get their names on the scoresheet again when they lace up to take on Roy Hodgson’s Palace on Sunday.
