Roy Hodgson will not be too displeased with the start Crystal Palace have made to the current league season. They fell to a 2-0 loss against Liverpool last weekend but beat Fulham on the opening weekend and will hope to get back to winning ways this weekend, when they travel to Vicarage Road, to take on a Watford side, that has won each of its first two games.
Beating Brighton and Burnley, Javi Gracia’s side will be high on confidence and playing at home, will believe that they can steal a point or even more from this game. But Palace have started the season on a strong note and have star players making an impact.
The manager made no changes to his side from the first game to the next and is not expected to make too many changes this weekend either. Here is the predicted lineup he might field, in search of three crucial points against Watford on Sunday.
Crystal Palace – Team News
The Eagles are still without Scott Dann, Connor Wickham and Jonathan Williams, all of who are nursing respective injuries. Hodgson will also be without Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who picked up a red card late in the game against Liverpool.
Expected Crystal Palace lineup (4-4-2)
Defence
With 10 saves already this season, Wayne Hennessey has a clean sheet from the first game of the season and was also effective against the Reds. He will surely not be easy to beat for the likes of Troy Deeney and Andre Gray this weekend.
Mamadou Sakho conceded a penalty in the last game but he has a passing accuracy of 95%, the best at the club and should keep his place in the side, alongside James Tomkins, who has won eight aerial duels in the first two games. With an assist, two key passes and a passing accuracy of 81%, Patrick van Aanholt should retain his place at left-back while Joel Ward will replace Wan-Bissaka at right-back, with the latter serving a suspension.
Midfield
Luka Milivojevic has started the season strongly and has eight tackles, five interceptions and three dribbles already this season. He will act as the deepest of the midfielders, alongside James McArthur, who had no real effect on the game last weekend against Liverpool.
Hodgson has stuck with Jeffery Schlupp on the left side of his midfield after the 25-year old found the back of the net against Fulham. Andros Townsend will start on the other flank but he has registered just two key passes in the two games and should improve on his outcome this weekend.
Attack
Christian Benteke has won 15 aerial duels already this season and also has three key passes. He will look to add goals to his numbers in this game against Watford. He will be supported by Wilfried Zaha, who has a goal, six dribbles and two key passes to his name this season.
Here is how they might line up:
Stat Credit: Whoscored.com