Crystal Palace vs Stoke City. Premier League.
Selhurst ParkAttendance23,723.
Saturday 25 November 2017 13:54, UK
Roy Hodgson will be hoping Crystal Palace can earn just their second win of the season when they host Stoke on Saturday.
Having lost seven games in a row to start the season, the Eagles' form has improved slightly in recent weeks, with five points from their last five Premier League games.
However, they are still five points adrift from safety at the bottom of the table.
"It's is an opportunity," said Hodgson. "Every game is an opportunity because there is the same numbers of points available for the winning team, we are aware of the fact that if we are to climb off the bottom we have got to win matches.
"It is obviously, on paper, easier against the teams that are close to you rather than the ones that are right at the very top of the table but I don't think we will ever play a team where the points are easy to come by."
Stoke are unbeaten in their last three Premier League matches and have drawn both their previous games 2-2 against Leicester and Brighton.
"Crystal Palace are fighting for their lives and will want to maximise their opportunities by getting all three points against us," said manager Mark Hughes. "Roy Hodgson is in there now and he will have an impact, we are mindful of that, but we are at a point where we are confident in what we are doing and we are looking forward to it."
Christian Benteke is pushing to start for Crystal Palace after returning as a substitute in the 2-2 draw with Everton.
The striker's availability increases competition for places in the final third, where Hodgson has so far persisted with the in-form Andros Townsend and Wilfried Zaha.
Palace's only absentees are Chung-yong Lee, because of an ankle knock, and Connor Wickham, who is still far from a return after injuring the anterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee.
Stoke have no new injury concerns. Lee Grant will continue to deputise for the injured Jack Butland in goal while Geoff Cameron and Stephen Ireland remain out.
The Eagles are unbeaten in their four Premier League home games against Stoke, winning three and drawing one.
Stoke won their last league meeting with Palace back in February (1-0), but haven't managed back-to-back wins against them since a run of three in the second tier between November 2006 and October 2007.
Crystal Palace are the eighth side to have won five points or fewer from their opening 12 games of a Premier League season. Of the previous seven, six have been relegated and the only team to avoid relegation were Everton in 1994-95 (four points from 12 games).
Only West Ham (25) have conceded more goals than these two clubs in the Premier League this season (24 each - alongside Everton) coming in to matchday 13.
I'm going to for Palace in this one. They've been knocking on the door recently, and have been unlucky. I thought Stoke were quite fortunate on Monday, so I'm going 2-1 to Palace. They're dangerous at set plays.
Palace are edging towards some form. I'm not sure they'll stay up, and I think the way Wilfried Zaha is playing, there could be teams in for him in January. It is a one-man team, no doubt about it. If Zaha plays, they've always got a chance.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
Crystal Palace are Sky Bet's even-money favourites for the victory with Stoke priced at 14/5 while the draw is a 12/5 chance. Christian Benteke heads the first goalscorer betting at 4/1, with Eric Choupo Moting and Peter Crouch considered the visitors' main threats at 13/2 apiece.
Crystal Palace v Stoke is included in this weekend's Super 6, with £250,000 up for grabs for predicting six correct scores.
