Crystal Palace are on the verge of securing their Premier League survival as they prepare to host Newcastle United at Selhurst Park on Wednesday. The Eagles have been in impressive form of late, thrashing London rivals West Ham 5-2 to continue their recent resurgence. Meanwhile, Newcastle had the weekend off and will be looking to maintain their push for European qualification.
With a win over the Magpies, Palace can open up an unassailable 14-point gap to 18th-placed Luton Town and all but guarantee their Premier League status for another season. However, the Eagles have not had the best of records against Newcastle in recent times, having failed to win any of their last five Premier League meetings with the Magpies.
Newcastle, under the guidance of Eddie Howe, are unbeaten in their last four matches, having picked up three wins and a draw. They currently sit just above Manchester United in the Premier League standings on goal difference and will be keen to maintain their position in the top half of the table.
The return of Michael Olise to the Crystal Palace starting lineup has coincided with a dramatic upturn in form for the Eagles. The Frenchman has been instrumental in Palace’s recent victories over Liverpool and West Ham, and his presence on the pitch has helped to unlock the attacking potential of Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
When the trio of Olise, Eze, and Mateta have all started together in the Premier League this season, Crystal Palace have won four of those five games, averaging 2.4 points per game. This is a significant increase from the team’s record when the trio have been missing, with both Olise and Eze suffering hamstring issues earlier in the season.
In the 28 games when those three players have not all been in the starting lineup, Palace have only won five times, drawing nine and losing 14, averaging just 0.9 points per game.
The home side will be sweating on the fitness of Adam Wharton following an enforced withdrawal on Sunday. Palace’s lengthy injury list has eased in recent weeks, but Sam Johnstone, Cheick Doucoure, Jefferson Lerma, Marc Guehi, and Matheus Franca all remain sidelined.
Newcastle are hoping to welcome back Kieran Trippier and Joe Willock to ease their own fitness crisis. The visitors are still without Matt Targett, Nick Pope, Miguel Almiron, Callum Wilson, Joelinton, Lewis Miley, Sven Botman, and Jamaal Lascelles. Sandro Tonali is also a long-term absentee due to a betting ban.
Speaking after their 5-2 win over the Hammers, Eagles boss Oliver Glasner acknowledged the challenge that Newcastle will pose on Wednesday: “The players, how they started the game in the first 30 minutes, were really amazing,” said Glasner. “It was nice to watch for a manager. It was an excellent performance, but now the game is played. The game is played, we have the three points, and it’s our first back-to-back wins of the season.
“Now it’s the third one in a row against Newcastle [we are aiming for], and this will be a big challenge.
“They will be fresh, so we have maybe the same situation as West Ham today [having played in midweek], a little bit tired legs.
“Of course, we take a lot of positive things from the game today, but stay focused for the next challenges.”
This Premier League clash will take place on Wednesday, April 24. Kick-off at Selhurst Park is scheduled for 8pm. talkSPORT will have live and exclusive coverage from south London on the talkSPORT App, with the game not available on UK TV. Commentary comes from Rob Dugmore via talkSPORT International.
