Crystal Palace vs. West Brom
Venue: Selhurst Park
Kick off: 4PM
West Bromwich Albion will continue their battle for Premier League survival with a trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace this afternoon.
The Baggies are currently 19th in the table, eight points from the safety of 17th position, while Palace occupy 13th spot, eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Palace’s three-game unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end last weekend when they suffered a 4-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, with the result leaving them in 13th spot in the table on 34 points.
The Eagles, as mentioned, have no serious relegation fears at this stage as they are eight points clear of the relegation zone, but a defeat this weekend could well leave them looking over their shoulder.
Palace might still be looking up the division rather than down, though, as just four points separates them from 10th-placed Arsenal, and they will be the favourites heading into Saturday’s clash on home soil.
Roy Hodgson’s side have found it difficult to show consistency at Selhurst Park this term, winning four, drawing five and losing five of their 14 league games at home.
The capital outfit will be taking on a West Brom side with the second-worst away record in the division, though, and they recorded a thumping 5-1 victory over the Baggies at the Hawthorns earlier this season.
West Brom are entering last-chance saloon as they bid to escape the relegation zone, with last weekend’s goalless draw at home to Newcastle United leaving them firmly in 19th position.
Sam Allardyce’s side are currently eight points behind 17th-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, who also have a game in hand, and it is difficult to imagine the Baggies pulling themselves out of danger.
The strugglers will view the clash with Palace as a must-win contest, particularly considering that their next league game is away to Chelsea on April 3, while they are also away at top-four hopefuls Leicester City in the middle of next month.
As mentioned, West Brom’s away record in the Premier League this season has been disappointing, picking up just seven points from 13 matches, while they have lost four of their last five matches with Palace in all competitions, including a 2-0 defeat at Selhurst Park on their last visit in May 2018.
The Baggies have also picked up just one point from their last four league games on their travels but did record an impressive 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux in the middle of January.
Crystal Palace possible XI: Guaita, Ward, Kouyate, Cahill, Van Aanholt, Townsend, Milivojevic, Riedewald, Eze, Zaha, Benteke.
West Brom possible XI: Johnstone, Furlong, O’Shea, Bartley, Townsend, Pereira, Maitland-Niles, Yokuslu, Gallagher, Phillips, Diagne.
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