Crystal Palace are set to clash with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday. The Eagles are still fighting their way out of relegation contention but Eddie Howe’s are close to overcoming that barrier.
Bournemouth have drawn three and won 1 in their last 5 league fixtures to move 9 points clear of the bottom three. They are currently staged at the 10th spot of the points table and have even managed to topple Watford in the process.
They held Watford to a 2-2 draw at the Vicarage last weekend. It looked like Roberto Pereyra’s goal was end up being the difference maker but the veteran striker, Jermain Defoe stepped up in the last stages and helped his side to a point.
Palace, on the other hand, are held off the bottom-three by just 2 points and Roy Hodgson is fighting his way through a spree of injuries. The former England boss has had his work cut out for him. Saving the side from relegation looked like a near-impossible task before the 70-year-old’s appointment.
But Hodgson has instilled a sense of fighting spirit into the squad with a few signings made in the January window. Moreover, the younger players seem to be stepping up to the plate and delivering when required.
The ties against Manchester United and Liverpool were heartbreaking for the Eagles with all of them ending on just 1 goal difference. Hodgson’s side took the lead against both the teams but unfortunately, could not see it through the 90.
He will be looking to register the maximum in this lineup to keep their survival hopes alive.
Formation: 4-3-3
Defence
Wayne Hennessey is the current number one ahead of Julian Speroni after finding a bit of consistency in between the sticks. The 31-year-old should be covered by the defensive quartet of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Mamadou Sakho, Martin Kelly and Patrick van Aanholt. James Tomkins is a doubt with a calf injury.
Midfield
Luka Milivojevic and James McArthur might appear in the holding midfield role. Yohan Cabaye is the predicted starter ahead of the duo in the attacking midfield role.
Attack
Wilfried Zaha might start in the left wing. The Ivory Coast international has returned to training with the first team after spending 5-weeks out on the sidelines with a knee ligament injury.
Christian Benteke has looked much better with his new strike force partner, Alexander Sorloth but the latter is set to miss out on this fixture.
