Crystal Palace Vs Stoke City
England Premier League.
Date: Sunday, 18th September, 2016
Kick-off: 14:15 UK.
Venue: Selhurst Park, London
Stoke seek their first league win of the season after a woeful start to their campaign, ahead of a trip to Crystal Palace on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
The Potters sit bottom of the table after losing all but one of their Premier League matches, with the exception being a 1-1 draw with newly-promoted Middlesbrough at the start of the season.
It has been a downward spiral since for Mark Hughes, who was sent to the stands during his side's 4-0 defeat to Tottenham last weekend after verbally abusing the fourth official.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are chasing their second league win and come into the game on the back of a 2-1 victory over Boro.
Team news
Pape Souare faces up to six months out but Alan Pardew has said the Crystal Palace defender should make a full recovery following a serious car crash.
Yohan Cabaye will miss the fixtures as he is yet to recover from his groin injury.
Connor Wickham is available after recovering from a knock that kept him out of the Eagles' win over Middlesbrough.
Christian Benteke and younger brother Jonathan are set to feature, with on-loan Chelsea man Loic Remy out for two months with a thigh injury and Fraizer Campbell sidelined.
Match stats
Crystal Palace have won four of their previous six Premier League games against Stoke, drawing one and losing another.
Stoke's only victory in the Premier League over the Eagles came in August 2013, in which Charlie Adam and Ryan Shawcross both scored for the Potters.
Stoke have conceded 10 goals in their opening four Premier League games of the season, compared to the same number conceded in their opening nine matches of 2015-16.
Palace will be aiming to secure back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since December 19th 2015.
Christian Benteke has scored four goals and assisted one more in his last eight Premier League appearances, despite playing just 444 minutes in these
games overall.
Merson's prediction
Stoke are struggling. Really struggling. They have footballers in their team and it's OK to have footballers when you are winning, but when you are losing, you need a bit of steel as well. I'm not sure they have that in them.
They need a Mark Hughes on the pitch, someone to dig in and put themselves about, and I worry for them - not in terms of relegation, but I'm not sure they will have the season they hoped for.
If Palace play to Christian Benteke's strengths, and based on the Boro game it looks like they will, he will score goals.
Key Facts
Crystal Palace has won 1 of the first 4 league games this season. However, the eagles currently maintain 3 games unbeaten run.
Stoke has failed to win in their first 4 league games of the season. The potters are in search of their win over Crystal palace, after suffering 3 consecutive league defeats.
Crystal Palace: Team News
Alan Pardew will be missing 6 top men for this clash. Frazier Campbell, Connor Wickham, Loic Remy, Bakary Sako, and Souare Pape who recently join the injury due to a scary car accident.
Crystal Palace: Predicted Line-Up (4-2-3-1)
Mandanda: Damein, Ward, Kelly, Scott: McArthur, Ledley – Zaha, Puncheon, Townsend,: Benteke
Stoke City: Team News
Mark Hughes was sent to the stand in Stoke last weekend defeat to Spurs. However, he will be without Stephen Ireland, Affellay, Jack Butland for stoke visit to London. In addition, Glen Johnson is also a doubt for this clash.
Stoke City: Predicted Line-Up (4-3-3)
Given: Cameron, Shawcross, Martin-Indi, Johnson: Glenn, Adams- Arnautovic, Bojan, Allen: Bony
Crystal Palace vs Stoke City: Head to Head
Crystal have enjoyed consistent winning spell over Stoke City. The Eagles failed to drop points in 4 consecutive clashes with the eagles.
Crystal Palace vs Stoke City: Prediction
With the right peck in right hole, Selhurst Park could be a difficult ground for any visiting side this season. Moreover, Stoke are coming on a back of a slow and defeat filled campaign. The Potters are yet to record a league win this season. While Palace have just earned their first win of the season against Middlesbrough last week and they will are a team with some confidence. Therefore, all things being equal I see a close battle between this two side, with Crystal palace having more chance to gather the maximum point.
Crystal Palace vs Stoke City: Bet Tips
Crystal Palace to win at 2.05 (21/20)
First Half Goals – Over 0.5 at 1.44 (4/9).
