On the back of a magnificent 1-0 win over Liverpool, Crystal Palace host West ham on Sunday (April 21) in the Premier League.
Last time out, the Eagles shocked everyone with a 1-0 win at Anfield, with Eberechi Eze’s 14th minute goal the difference between the sides.
West Ham’s last Premier League match ended in a 2-0 defeat at home to Fulham. However, with the Fulham match between two games against the only unbeaten team in Europe in Bayer Leverkusen, the Hammers may have had more focus on tonight’s second leg.
The return of Michael Olise to the starting 11 last Sunday was a boost for Pace at Anfield and, with him expected to start this weekend, he will likely play a key role if Palace are to beat a strong West Ham side.
Although it is not a certainty who will start for West Ham at the weekend, the likes of Lucas Paqueta and Emerson Palmieri will be expected to start, as they are suspended for tonight’s Europa League tie.
Predicted Crystal Palace starting XI (3-4-3)
Goalkeeper: Dean Henderson
Defence: Nathaniel Clyne, Joachim Andersen, Jefferson Lerma
Midfield: Daniel Munoz, Adam Wharton, Will Hughes, Tyrick Mitchell
Attack: Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, Jean-Phillipe Mateta
Predicted West Ham starting XI (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Lukasz Fabianski
Defence: Vladimir Coufal, Kurt Zouma, Nayef Aguerd, Emerson Palmieri
Midfield: Edson Alvarez, James Ward Prowse, Lucas Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus
Attack: Michail Antonio
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The stats
Here are key stats ahead of Sunday’s fixture:
- Crystal Palace have only lost once in their last six Premier League home matches against West Ham
- Palace have taken the lead in seven out of their last eight Premier League matches; the only game they did not take the lead in was a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth
- Although sitting in eighth place, West Ham have one of the leakiest defences in the league, with only the Premier League’s bottom three conceding more than the Hammers
- Both sides have only won three Premier League matches this calendar year; Palace have played 12 matches, while West Ham have played 13.
Prediction
After Crystal Palace’s memorable win at the weekend, and West Ham’s difficult Europa League tie, I can only see one outcome this weekend.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 3-0 West Ham
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