After three back-to-back defeats against Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley and Manchester City, which surprisingly came after wins against Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal, Sam Allardyce’s men do have an outside chance of getting relegated at the end of the season.
And it is safe to say, their next game against Hull City will be their most important match of the season. Because, if they are to go spiralling downwards to the Championship next season, it will start with the Tigers beating them at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
And given Palace’s record against the Tigers of late, Allardyce has enough reasons to be concerned. Since their last win against Hull back in 2013-14, Palace haven’t won a single time in their last three face-offs. The Tigers won the reverse game 2-0 though they haven’t done a double on them since October 1985.
Palace are currently with 38 points sitting in the 16th position and they have the second worst home record this season after already relegated Sunderland, and Marco Silva’s men will look to exploit that surely.
Possible Crystal Palace XI vs Hull City
Defence
Wayne Hennessey will start under the bar once again. The 30-year-old Welsh international had a nightmarish game against Manchester City last game, but City’s incessant attack forced him to make some phenomenal saves too. Allardyce would expect his back line to protect him well this time.
The season-ending injury to Mamadou Sakho has put Allardyce in huge trouble. He had to play left-back Jefferey Schlupp in the central defence alongside Martin Kelly, and given the outcome, it clearly didn’t help. We expect Damien Delaney to start in that role now.
And Joel Ward a doubt for the game with the broken nose, we expect Schlupp to move in that position. Patrick van Aanholt will take his role in the left-back position.
Midfield
Crystal Palace started with one pivot in the central midfield with Luka Milivojevic against City and it didn’t fare well at all. Yohan Cabaye is expected to return for the game and Allardyce’s first priority should be to prevent another loss. We expect a double pivot now.
The number 10 role will be taken by the combative Jason Puncheon. Although he hasn’t been the most creative of the lot in that position, his high pressing has come in handy.
Attack
The front trio is expected to remain the same with Andros Townsend and Wilfred Zaha on the flanks, and Christian Benteke spearheading the attack. They have misfired of late and now will be the best time to get back into form.
