Crystal Palace have not had a good start to 2020 as they are still searching for their first win of the year. Roy Hodgson’s men have lost two and drawn three of their five league games of 2020, losing their last two games against Southampton and Sheffield United at home.
They have yet another tough test this weekend when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton. The Magpies have been on a roll in the league and are undefeated in the last four Premier League games. The last time these two sides faced in the league was the opening gameweek of the 2019-20 season, where the match ended 0-0.
Let’s take a look at the team that Roy Hodgson could put out against Everton.
Team News:
Mamadou Sakho and Jeffrey Schlupp will miss the game through injury, while Cenk Tosun too is injured and he wouldn’t have been eligible to play against his parent club. Martin Kelly has joined the trio on the sidelines with a calf problem.
Andros Townsend returned to the squad last time around, after almost two months out due to injury.
PREDICTED CRYSTAL PALACE LINEUP vs EVERTON (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
Vicente Guaita’s horrendous error in Palace’s last game against Sheffield United, where he caught a corner kick inside the goal, proved to be very costly for the Eagles. But Hodgson will most likely persist with Guaita, who has been in good form this season.
Defence
Hodgson is likely to continue with the same backline that played against Sheffield United, led by Gary Cahill and James Tomkins at centre-back in the Crystal Palace lineup.
Patrick van Aanholt will start at left-back while Joel Ward will take his place on the opposite side of the defence.
Midfield
The Palace manager could make changes in midfield, with Cheikhou Kouyaté coming into the Crystal Palace lineup in place of either James McArthur or James McCarthy.
Captain Luka Milivojevic should retain his place in the middle of the park.
Jordan Ayew’s place on the right flank could be taken by the returning Andros Townsend, while Wilfried Zaha will most likely start on the opposite side.
Attack
Christian Benteke could drop to the bench, with Ayew possibly moved up front to play the lone striker role in the Crystal Palace lineup.
Ayew is Palace’s top scorer with 6 goals, while Benteke is yet to get off the mark for the season.
